Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela has been chosen as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize 2025.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee picked Machado for the award in recognition of her relentless efforts to promote democratic rights and her unwavering struggle for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.
Machado, a prominent leader of the Venezuelan democracy movement, is celebrated as one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times. Her leadership has been instrumental in uniting a deeply divided political opposition around the core demands for free elections and representative government—principles at the very heart of democracy.
Venezuela, once a relatively prosperous and democratic nation, has deteriorated into an authoritarian state engulfed in a humanitarian and economic crisis. Widespread poverty, a brutal regime suppressing dissent through election rigging, legal prosecutions, and imprisonment, have led nearly 8 million Venezuelans to flee the country.
Machado’s commitment to democracy dates back over two decades. As a founding member of Súmate, an organization dedicated to promoting democratic development, she has consistently advocated for free and fair elections.
In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Machado was the opposition’s candidate. However, the regime disqualified her from running and instead supported a different candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia. Despite this setback, hundreds of thousands of volunteers across Venezuela mobilized to observe and ensure the transparency of the election.
The award highlights that democracy is essential for lasting peace, especially at a time when authoritarian regimes worldwide challenge democratic norms through violence and repression. The Committee notes that global trends show a concerning decline in free and fair elections, with increasing suppression of free media, imprisonment of critics, and militarization of societies.
“Machado meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel’s will for the selection of a Peace Prize laureate. She has brought her country’s opposition together. She has never wavered in resisting the militarisation of Venezuelan society. She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement on Friday.
