Maria Corina Machado, a fearless Venezuelan opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights and her peaceful struggle to restore democracy in Venezuela.”
Maria Corina: A Voice for Democracy in Venezuela
Maria Corina Machado is the leader of Venezuela’s democracy movement and one of Latin America’s most courageous political figures. For over two decades, she has championed free elections, human rights, and political freedom in a country gripped by authoritarian rule.
Venezuela, once among South America’s most prosperous nations, has faced a deep political and humanitarian crisis under its current regime. Millions have fled the country, while opposition voices have been silenced through intimidation, imprisonment, and censorship. Amid this turmoil, Machado has stood firm, advocating for “ballots over bullets.”
Maria Corina’s Political Journey
A former member of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Machado first gained recognition as a founder of Súmate, a civil organization promoting free and fair elections. Her leadership has inspired unity among Venezuela’s fragmented opposition parties.
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Machado emerged as the opposition’s leading candidate but was barred from running by the government. Undeterred, she backed Edmundo González Urrutia, helping mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers to monitor the vote. Their peaceful, coordinated effort revealed an opposition victory that the regime refused to acknowledge — an act that further strengthened her global image as a symbol of civic resistance.
Symbol of Courage and Hope
Despite harassment, threats, and periods of hiding, Maria Corina Machado has remained in Venezuela, continuing her struggle for democracy through peaceful means. Her bravery and persistence have inspired millions within and beyond her country.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee hailed her as “a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”
Machado’s recognition affirms her belief that the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace, and her Nobel Prize shines a global spotlight on Venezuela’s ongoing fight for freedom, justice, and human dignity.