Oppositionist to Nicolás Maduro is awarded for “tireless work promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people” and for fighting “for a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”.
Opposition to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight for democracy in Venezuela, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced this Friday (10/10) in Oslo.
María Corina was recognized “for her tireless work promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for her fight to achieve a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, president of the committee.
“For the past year, Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats to her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians take power, it is crucial to recognize the courageous defenders of freedom who stand up and resist,” he added.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to “a courageous and committed defender of peace, to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy alive, in the midst of growing darkness”, highlighted Watne Frydnes.
Machado demonstrated that the tools of democracy are also tools of peace, the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized, adding that the laureate embodies hope for a different future, in which citizens’ fundamental rights are protected and their voices are heard.
A former deputy of the National Assembly of Venezuela between 2011 and 2014, she was a favorite in the last presidential elections in Venezuela, but was prevented from running after being considered ineligible by the Nicolás Maduro regime two years ago.
In his place, diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia ran, who, according to international observers, obtained the majority of votes, which was not officially announced. And Maduro, who has governed Venezuela since 2013, remained in power.
In December, Machado and González were honored with the European Parliament’s Sakharov Human Rights Prize, the European Union’s highest human rights distinction. Machado had already received the Václav Havel Human Rights Award, recognition for his tireless commitment to democracy and freedom in Venezuela.
Speculation about Trump
Before the announcement, there was speculation about the possibility of the award being given to US President Donald Trump, fueled in part by the president himself, amplified by the approval this week of his ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip.
Experts say the committee typically focuses on the durability of peace, the promotion of international brotherhood and the quiet work of institutions that strengthen these goals.
Last year’s award was given to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain the taboo surrounding the use of nuclear weapons.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the only one of the annual Nobel Prizes to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.
Since the first ceremony, in 1901, until 2024, the award had been given to 111 people and 28 organizations. The first awards went to Swiss Henri Dunant, founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and French pacifist Frédéric Passy.
Four of the other Nobel Prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, this week: Medicine, Monday, Physics, Tuesday, Chemistry, Wednesday and Literature, Thursday. The winner of the Economics prize will be announced on Monday.
The prize pays 11 million Swedish krona (around R$6.2 million) to the winners.
Originally published by DW on 10/10/2025
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/10/10/venezuelana-maria-corina-machado-ganha-o-nobel-da-paz/
