Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unyielding commitment to democracy and peace in Venezuela.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her as a brave and committed champion of peace who has kept the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.
Announcing the award in Oslo on Friday, the Committee said Machado earned global recognition for her tireless efforts in promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Machado, a prominent political figure and unifying force in Venezuela’s democracy movement, has consistently advocated non-violence and civic participation despite facing government repression.
The Committee stated that her leadership demonstrates that the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace, calling her a beacon of hope for millions seeking freedom and justice.
Her recognition comes at a critical juncture for Venezuela, where democratic institutions continue to face erosion and civic freedoms are under pressure. By honouring Machado, the Committee underscored the global importance of peaceful democratic activism amid rising authoritarianism.
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize generated intense anticipation, with US President Donald Trump among the most discussed contenders. Several nations, including Israel, Russia, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan, reportedly nominated him for mediating prolonged international conflicts.
Trump, who had openly lobbied for the prize, claimed credit for resolving eight wars in nine months. However, the Committee’s decision ultimately favoured a grassroots defender of democratic principles over a political heavyweight.
Since its inception in 1901, the Norwegian Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 105 times to 139 laureates, including 19 women and 28 organisations. The 2024 Peace Prize went to Japan’s Nihon Hidankyo, an association of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors.
Machado now joins the distinguished ranks of laureates such as Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela, symbolising courage, peace, and the enduring power of democratic conviction.
Also Read: ‘Obama Got A Prize For Doing Nothing’: Trump Revives Criticism Ahead Of Nobel Peace Prize Reveal
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