Maria Corina Machado, a political activist and Venezuelan opposition leader, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her long-time efforts in promoting democracy, and especially against President Nicolas Maduro.
Upon the announcement, the Nobel Peace Prize committee discussed Machado’s background and accomplishments in an essay.
“She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize 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,” Nobel stated. “Venezuela’s authoritarian regime makes political work extremely difficult. As a founder of Súmate, an organisation devoted to democratic development, Ms Machado stood up for free and fair elections more than 20 years ago. As she said: ‘It was a choice of ballots over bullets.’ In political office and in her service to organisations since then, Ms Machado has spoken out for judicial independence, human rights and popular representation. She has spent years working for the freedom of the Venezuelan people. Ahead of the election of 2024, Ms Machado was the opposition’s presidential candidate, but the regime blocked her candidacy.”
Hereafter, Machado went into hiding from Maduro’s regime after her opposition campaign failed.
Machado dedicated her award to US President Donald Trump.
“This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom,” Machado said on X. “We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy.”
The White House, mindful of the recent peace deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by President Trump, expressed disappointment over the decision.
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” White House Communications director Steven Cheung said of the decision. “President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives,” Cheung wrote on X. “He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.”
However, the president appeared unbothered by not winning the award, as he related a phone call between him and Machado during a press conference.
In August, President Trump sent naval vessels to Venezuela to investigate cartel operations that may flow into the US. Shortly thereafter, the US Military launched an air strike on cargo ships carrying narcotics.
