OSLO/CARACAS, Friday, October 10, 2025 (WNP): Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a symbol of civic courage and democratic resistance, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her steadfast struggle to restore democracy and human rights in Venezuela amid years of deepening authoritarian rule.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Machado’s “unwavering commitment to democratic principles and peaceful reform” made her a fitting choice for this year’s Peace Prize, especially at a time when democracy faces growing threats worldwide.
An engineer and finance graduate, Machado began her career in business before turning to public service. In 1992, she founded the Atenea Foundation to support street children in Caracas. A decade later, she co-founded Súmate, a civil society organization that promotes free and fair elections through voter education, training, and election monitoring.
Her growing influence led to her election to Venezuela’s National Assembly in 2010, where she won a record number of votes. However, in 2014, the regime expelled her from office in a move widely condemned as politically motivated.
As the leader of the Vente Venezuela opposition party, Machado has since become one of the most prominent advocates for political reform and democratic unity. In 2017, she co-founded Soy Venezuela, an alliance uniting pro-democracy movements across ideological divides.
Machado announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, but when the regime barred her from running, she rallied behind opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. Despite widespread evidence indicating the opposition’s electoral victory, the government declared itself the winner and tightened its control.
The Nobel Committee noted that Machado’s recognition goes beyond Venezuela’s borders. It reflects the global importance of defending democracy — “the right to speak freely, to vote, and to be represented by an elected government” — as the cornerstone of peace both within nations and between them.
Her award, the committee added, honors not only her personal courage but also the resilience of millions of Venezuelans who continue to fight for a future grounded in freedom, justice, and peace.
