A NOBEL PRIZE FOR VENEZUELA

A Tribute to María Corina Machado, Winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Today, December 10th, is a historic day for Venezuela. Our country receives its first Nobel Prize, and it is received by a person who has fought tirelessly in her role as an activist and political leader for the freedom of our country, Venezuela; a person whose conviction has inspired and awakened a population that has been repressed and attacked for many years by an authoritarian government that has stripped many Venezuelans of their dignity and hope. A woman who has marked the contemporary history of Venezuela and will be an example for future generations; that Venezuelan woman is María Corina Machado.

It was on the morning of October 10, 2025, when a great announcement surprised the world: the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the first time to a Venezuelan woman, María Corina Machado, "for her tireless work promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy." This award is a recognition of the Venezuelan people, who have bravely fought alongside their leader to achieve freedom and democracy; and it comes in a context of maximum internal and external political tension, where many Venezuelans face hopelessness and despair in times of crisis and uncertainty. This prize represents a new light that inspires Venezuelans to be resilient and encourages the conviction and morale of all those who, alongside María Corina, dream of a better country.

María Corina Machado is an undisputed leader who for many years has spearheaded a political movement, from the early 2000s until very recently in 2023, when with her courage and bravery she raised her voice to a population that seemed reluctant to believe in politics under a dictatorship; one that seemed submissive to the numerous failed attempts and promises that other opposition leaders had disappointed the people with. María Corina, through her party Vente Venezuela, managed to transmit a message of hope that succeeded in awakening the people and setting a specific and clear course for achieving a peaceful transition to democracy; she successfully organized urban and rural communities throughout the national territory. On October 22, 2023, the Venezuelan opposition held primary elections, where more than 2 million Venezuelans clearly and overwhelmingly (92% of the votes) chose María Corina as their candidate for the presidential elections on July 28, 2024.

María Corina's message was powerful and called on all citizens to participate civically in the presidential elections. However, it is important to highlight that in these elections, the Maduro regime used all its political machinery to prevent María Corina’s participation, and in effect, the regime launched a campaign that led to her political disqualification, which prevented her from presenting her name on the ballot. Despite the obstacles, hurdles, and sabotage by the government, María Corina chose Edmundo González, a career diplomat with a distinguished track record, to be the presidential candidate for the unified opposition platform.

On July 28, 2024, the day of the presidential elections. María Corina Machado's and Edmundo González's Vente Venezuela party inflicted the most crushing defeat on Chavismo in its history; more than 80% of voters supported the opposition party. Nonetheless, the government, which in turn controls the authorities of the National Electoral Council (CNE), the institution responsible for overseeing the elections, announced a completely unjustifiable result, in which, without presenting the tally sheets or electoral bulletins, it announced Nicolás Maduro as the winner. María Corina and her collaborators designed a plan to guarantee the transparency of the process and also obtain the bulletins with the results at every polling station in the country to demonstrate to the world the great victory they consolidated and expose a massive fraud perpetrated by the Maduro regime.

After these elections, moments of maximum political and social tension were experienced. The government initiated a campaign of persecution against opponents, not only against the main collaborating leaders but also against any citizen who denounced the perpetuated fraud. To date, it is estimated that more than 1,900 people have been unjustly and arbitrarily detained, many of whom have already received sentences. It is estimated that around 150 of them are members of the Vente Venezuela party and at least 10 are high-profile leaders close to María Corina Machado, who, for her safety, had to be sheltered in hiding.

Since last January 10, 2025, María Corina has not been able to make public appearances; the risk of detention is imminent. However, from hiding, María Corina has continued to lead and promote her struggle for freedom; she has remained active on social networks, transmitting messages of hope and virtually participating in events around the world, raising her voice on behalf of Venezuelans. Her struggle and conviction are tireless, and she has promised that her fight will be “hasta el final” (until the end).

With this Nobel Prize, the truth of the just cause of all Venezuelans is recognized; the memory of the brave young people who have given their lives for the noble cause of fighting for and demanding a better country is honored; and above all, a very clear message of repudiation is sent to the Nicolás Maduro dictatorship, which is condemned and categorized as the main cause of the suffering and failure of a country that, with great faith and perseverance, resists and does not give up. This Nobel Prize will mark a before and an after in the history of Venezuela and will be remembered for many generations.