Machado, long regarded as a symbol of civilian resistance against authoritarian rule, was recognised 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.” The Nobel Prize Organisation described her as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.”

The award comes amid Venezuela’s ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis, which has seen nearly eight million citizens flee the country. 

Ballots over bullets

According to the Nobel Committee, “Venezuela has evolved from a relatively democratic and prosperous country to a brutal, authoritarian state … The violent machinery of the state is directed against the country’s own citizens.”

Machado’s political journey began more than two decades ago when she co-founded Súmate, a civil society organisation advocating for electoral transparency. 

“It was a choice of ballots over bullets,” she once said, reflecting her commitment to peaceful resistance. Over the years, she has consistently spoken out for judicial independence, human rights, and representative government – often at great personal risk.

‘Hundreds of thousands of volunteers mobilised across political divides’

In the lead-up to Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, Machado emerged as the opposition’s candidate. However, her campaign was blocked by the regime. Undeterred, she endorsed Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, uniting fractured opposition factions behind a shared goal: free and fair elections. 

The Nobel Committee noted that “hundreds of thousands of volunteers mobilised across political divides … Despite the risk of harassment, arrest, and torture, citizens across the country held watch over the polling stations.”

The committee praised Machado’s ability to unify a previously divided opposition, stating: “This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree. At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.”

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado. Photo: X

Despite threats to her life and being forced into hiding, Machado has remained in Venezuela. Her decision to stay, according to the Nobel Committee, “has inspired millions of people.”

This year’s Peace Prize adds Machado’s name to a distinguished list of laureates who have stood up to repression and carried the hope of freedom into public squares, prison cells, and the hearts of their nations.

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