María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize 2025

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her decades-long struggle against authoritarian rule, her fearless defense of democracy, and her moral leadership in a nation beset by political and economic crisis, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday.

Machado, often called “Venezuela’s Iron Lady,” has spent more than a year in hiding after refusing to concede following a presidential election widely denounced by the United States and the European Union as fraudulent. Despite repeated disqualifications, intimidation, and threats, she has continued to mobilize citizens, document human rights abuses, and advocate for free and fair elections.

“Her courage and persistence embody the essence of peaceful resistance,” the Nobel Committee said in its statement. “Machado has shown that moral integrity can be a powerful force against repression.”

The U.S. and much of the Venezuelan public do not recognize President Nicolás Maduro’s claim to power after what independent observers have described as two consecutive stolen elections. Machado’s continued activism, even underground, has made her a symbol of hope for millions seeking political change.

In Caracas, news of the award sparked celebrations among opposition supporters, who viewed the honor as global validation of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement.

Meanwhile, speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump might receive the award—following his role in brokering a Gaza cease-fire deal and mediating several international conflicts—was put to rest. The Nobel Committee confirmed that nominations for this year’s prize closed on January 31, meaning any consideration for Trump’s recent diplomatic achievements would fall under the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize cycle.