In a powerful endorsement of the struggle for democracy in Venezuela, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has named opposition leader María Corina Machado as the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
The Committee cited her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” The award recognizes her decades of activism and her role as the unifying force behind a resurgent opposition movement.
A Symbol of Defiance
Machado, a 57-year-old industrial engineer turned prominent politician, has long been a central figure in the challenge to the governments of the late Hugo Chávez and his successor, Nicolás Maduro. Often called the “Iron Lady” of Venezuela’s opposition, she has persisted in her campaign despite being banned from holding public office and facing constant political persecution.
The Nobel Committee specifically highlighted her courage in remaining inside Venezuela to mobilize a peaceful, citizen-based movement. “She has become a key, unifying figure who embodies the hope for a future where the fundamental rights of all Venezuelans are protected,” the announcement stated.
A Career Dedicated to Democratic Principles
Machado’s path to the Nobel stage began long before her recent political ascendancy.
Civil Society Roots: In 2002, she co-founded ‘Súmate’, a civil society organization dedicated to electoral transparency, which played a pivotal role in a 2004 recall referendum against President Chávez.
Political Ascent: Elected to the National Assembly in 2010, she gained national prominence for her direct confrontations with the government, famously declaring during a televised presidential address, “To expropriate is to steal.”
Persecution and Leadership: After being unlawfully expelled from the Assembly in 2014, she became the leader of the Vente Venezuela party. In 2023, she won the opposition’s presidential primary in a landslide, solidifying her position as the movement’s standard-bearer.
Unifying Force: Despite being barred from the 2024 presidential ballot, she masterfully consolidated opposition support behind unity candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, spearheading a massive grassroots campaign to ensure a credible electoral challenge.
The Nobel Peace Prize not only honors María Corina Machado’s past sacrifices but also shines a global spotlight on the ongoing fight for a democratic and free Venezuela, reinforcing her message that change must be achieved through ballots, not bullets.