OSLO: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her commitment to democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee described her as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who has “kept the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”
Born in Caracas in 1967, Machado is an industrial engineer and former legislator. She has been a vocal critic of President Nicolás Maduro’s government and founded the civic organization Súmate, which promotes electoral transparency.
In 2024, she was barred from running in the presidential election, which faced widespread allegations of fraud and violence.
Despite facing threats to her life, Machado has remained in Venezuela, inspiring many with her resilience and advocacy for democratic reforms. The Nobel Peace Prize will be formally presented to her on December 10, 2025, in Oslo, Norway.
