María Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Championing Democracy in Venezuela
Oslo – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering efforts to promote democratic rights and justice in her country. The announcement, made on Friday, 10 October 2025, by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, recognises Machado’s role as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who has kept the flame of democracy alive amid growing challenges.
This marks a significant moment for Latin American politics, highlighting the global spotlight on Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for fair elections and human rights. While US President Donald Trump was among the nominees and openly campaigned for the prize, he did not win, with the committee opting to honour Machado’s grassroots activism instead.
The prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns (about R18.5 million), will be presented in Oslo on 10 December 2025, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. Machado’s win comes at a time when Venezuela faces deep political divisions, with her disqualification from the 2024 presidential race sparking international outcry. South Africans, familiar with their own history of fighting for democracy, may see parallels in Machado’s story, as global leaders call for renewed focus on peaceful transitions worldwide.
Announcement and Committee’s Statement
The Nobel Committee revealed the winner at 11:00 CEST (09:00 GMT) during a press conference at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes praised Machado, saying she is “a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amidst a growing darkness.” 10 The award aligns with Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will, which honours those who foster fraternity between nations, reduce armies, and spread peace through congresses.
Frydnes emphasised Machado’s tireless work in promoting democratic rights for Venezuelans and her struggle for a just society. 2 The decision was finalised on Monday, 6 October 2025, after a year of deliberations starting with nominations due by 31 January. The committee reviewed 338 candidates – 244 individuals and 94 organisations – keeping the process secret for 50 years.
This year’s prize was overshadowed by speculation, with 2025 seeing heightened global tensions from conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere. The committee’s choice underscores a focus on individual activists driving change from the ground up.
María Corina Machado’s Background and Achievements
Born on 7 October 1967 in Caracas, María Corina Machado is an industrial engineer turned politician with a master’s in finance from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración. 2 She entered politics in the early 2000s, co-founding Súmate, a civil society group that pushed for electoral transparency and monitored Venezuela’s 2004 recall referendum against then-President Hugo Chávez.
Machado served as a National Assembly member from 2011 to 2014, becoming the first woman to lead the opposition in parliament. Known for her outspoken criticism of the Maduro government, she has faced arrests, travel bans, and disqualification from running in the 2024 elections – a move condemned by the US and EU as undemocratic. 0 Despite this, she rallied massive support, with her stand-in candidate Edmundo González claiming victory in the disputed vote, leading to protests and international calls for recounts.
Her award highlights her non-violent push for free elections, human rights, and economic reforms in a country plagued by hyperinflation, shortages, and migration – over 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled since 2014. Machado’s work has inspired regional movements, drawing comparisons to figures like Aung San Suu Kyi, a 1991 laureate.
Donald Trump’s Nomination and the Prize Context
US President Donald Trump was a high-profile nominee, backed by leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pakistani General Asim Munir, and Argentine President Javier Milei. 9 Trump publicly campaigned for the prize, claiming credit for deals like the Abraham Accords, a Gaza ceasefire, and others, saying he ended “at least seven wars.” 10 However, nominations closed in January 2025, early in his second term, and his late Gaza announcement on Wednesday came after the committee’s Monday decision.
Experts like Nina Graeger from the Peace Research Institute Oslo noted Trump’s policies – such as withdrawing from the Paris climate accords and WHO – clashed with Nobel’s peace ethos. 8 While four US presidents have won (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama), Trump’s bid was seen as unlikely, with the committee independent of such campaigns.
Reactions to the Award
Global leaders hailed the choice. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called it a “beacon for democracy in Latin America.” 3 Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro dismissed it as “imperialist interference,” while opposition figures celebrated it as validation of their fight.
In South Africa, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola welcomed the award, noting parallels with the anti-apartheid struggle: “Machado’s courage reminds us that peace prizes honour those who challenge oppression peacefully.” Human rights groups like Amnesty International praised it for spotlighting Venezuela’s crisis.
Machado, in a statement from hiding due to safety fears, said: “This is for all Venezuelans dreaming of freedom. We will not stop until democracy is restored.” 0 The prize boosts her profile ahead of potential 2026 elections, amid US sanctions and EU pressure on Maduro.
Historical Context and Prize Significance
The Nobel Peace Prize, one of six Nobels, has gone to 111 individuals and 28 organisations since 1901. Recent winners include Nihon Hidankyo (2024) for anti-nuclear work and Narges Mohammadi (2023) for women’s rights in Iran. Machado is the first Venezuelan laureate, joining Latin Americans like Rigoberta Menchú (1992) and Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (1980).
The award often stirs debate, as with past choices like Henry Kissinger (1973) or the EU (2012). In 2025, amid wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, it reaffirms the committee’s focus on democratic resilience.
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