OSLO, Friday, October 10, 2025 (WNP): The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, a fearless Venezuelan opposition leader, in recognition of her relentless struggle for democracy, human rights, and peaceful political transition in Venezuela.

Announcing the decision in Oslo, the Nobel Committee hailed Ms. Machado as “a brave and committed champion of peace” who has kept “the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

Maria Corina Machado, founder of the democratic movement Súmate, has for over two decades stood at the forefront of Venezuela’s pro-democracy struggle—advocating “ballots over bullets” as the only path to a just and representative government.

Once a relatively prosperous democracy, Venezuela has descended into authoritarian rule and deep humanitarian crisis, with millions fleeing the country and the state’s violent apparatus silencing dissent. Despite arrests, intimidation, and censorship, Machado has continued her campaign for free and fair elections and the restoration of civil liberties.

Ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, Machado—initially the unified opposition’s presidential candidate—was barred from contesting by the regime. Undeterred, she rallied behind opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, helping to mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers across Venezuela to serve as election observers. Their efforts revealed an opposition victory, which the government subsequently refused to recognize.

The Nobel Committee praised her for uniting a divided opposition and inspiring millions through nonviolent resistance, calling her leadership “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.”

“Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace,” the Committee stated, adding that Machado’s struggle symbolizes the global fight against rising authoritarianism. “She reminds us that freedom must never be taken for granted, but must always be defended — with words, with courage, and with determination.”

Currently living in hiding amid escalating threats, Maria Corina Machado continues to represent hope for millions of Venezuelans who dream of a peaceful, democratic future.

With this year’s Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee not only honors Machado’s courage but also sends a powerful message to repressed societies around the world — that the tools of democracy remain the tools of peace.