Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy advocate, Maria Corina Machado, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless fight for democratic freedoms and peaceful transition from dictatorship in Venezuela.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on Friday, describing Machado as “a symbol of courage and resilience in Latin America.”
“Maria Corina Machado is honoured for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Nobel Committee, during the announcement in Oslo.
Frydnes noted that the Venezuelan opposition leader had become “a unifying figure in a once deeply divided opposition,” adding that her determination stood out in “a brutal authoritarian state grappling with humanitarian and economic crises.”
The committee praised Machado as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times,” highlighting her decision to remain in Venezuela despite threats to her life.
“Despite serious risks, she chose to stay in her country — a decision that has inspired millions,” Frydnes said.
Machado, who has spent the past year in hiding, has long been a leading voice for democratic reforms and human rights in Venezuela.
Her resilience, the committee said, represents hope for millions of citizens enduring political repression and economic hardship.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, who had publicly expressed his wish to win the Nobel Peace Prize, was not among the honourees. Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has repeatedly claimed he “deserves” the award for his role in global conflict resolution — a claim critics dismissed as exaggerated.
Experts in Oslo said Trump’s chances were slim, pointing out that his “America First” policies conflict with the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize as outlined in Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will.
Last year’s prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese anti-nuclear group formed by survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize comes with a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of $1.2 million. It will be presented at a ceremony in Oslo on December 10, marking the anniversary of Nobel’s death in 1896.
Other Nobel categories, including Literature and Economics, are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. On Thursday, the Literature Prize went to Hungarian author Laszlo Krasznahorkai, whose works explore postmodern dystopia and melancholy.
The Nobel season concludes on Monday with the announcement of the Economics Prize.
