Maria Corina Machado Wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Her Fight to Restore Democracy in Venezuela

Oslo [Norway], October 10, 2025: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless struggle to promote democratic rights and achieve a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee hailed Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace”, recognising her courage in defending democracy under repressive conditions. “The Prize has gone to a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness,” the Committee said in its announcement.

Emphasising that democracy is a vital condition for lasting peace, the Committee warned that authoritarianism is on the rise across the globe. “We live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes challenge norms and resort to violence,” the statement noted.

Machado has long been at the forefront of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement, campaigning for human rights, political freedom, and an end to military control. The Committee observed that her resistance to the militarisation of Venezuelan society and her efforts to unite the opposition demonstrate her commitment to democratic principles.

“The tools of democracy are also the tools of peace,” the Committee added. “Machado embodies the hope of a future where citizens’ fundamental rights are protected and their voices are heard.”

Highlighting the global erosion of democratic values, the Nobel panel drew parallels between Venezuela’s political repression and broader international trends—such as the silencing of free media, imprisonment of critics, and abuse of the rule of law by authoritarian governments.

Machado’s selection, the Committee said, fully aligns with Alfred Nobel’s vision for the Peace Prize: to honour those who work for fraternity among nations, the abolition of standing armies, and the promotion of peace.

Her recognition follows a long tradition of honoring individuals who embody resilience and hope. Notably, Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s first female professor and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, was similarly recognized for grassroots activism that transformed her society through the Green Belt Movement.

This year’s Peace Prize follows awards in physics, chemistry, medicine, and literature earlier this week. The Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on Monday.