Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Awarded 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her unwavering commitment to promoting democratic rights and advocating for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.

In its official statement, the committee lauded Machado as “a brave and committed champion of peace,” highlighting her role in uniting a previously fractured political opposition and her tireless efforts to uphold democratic values amid escalating political repression in Venezuela.  

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, emphasised that the award recognizes Machado’s leadership in the struggle for democracy in the face of expanding authoritarianism. The committee noted her significant contributions, including founding the civic group Súmate in 2002 to promote free and fair elections, serving in the National Assembly from 2011 to 2014, and leading the Vente Venezuela party.  

Despite being barred from running in the 2024 presidential election, Machado continued to support democratic initiatives and advocated for a peaceful transition of power. Her steadfast dedication to democratic principles has made her a prominent figure in the global movement for human rights and democratic governance.  

The Nobel Peace Prize is uniquely presented in Oslo, with each prize valued at 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.1 million). The formal awards ceremony is scheduled for December 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and founder of the prizes.  

Sources: The Guardian, ABC News, and the Washington Post


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