Maria Machado, Venezuela's iron lady politician who "kept the flame of democracy burning," wins the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize; Trump misses the award.
Today, 10 Oct, the Nobel Committee announced the award. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Has been awarded to. "Maria Corina Machado." The opposition leader and political activist from Venezuela.
She was selected from 338 nominees, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. This year's award has attracted global attention because. U.S. President Donald Trump. clearly expressed his desire to win and has taken on a role as a peacemaker, claiming to end multiple global conflicts.
Maria Corina Machado. 58 years old, nicknamed. "Venezuela's Iron Lady." She is currently an opposition political leader and activist. She has worked in politics for 20 years, fighting against the long-standing ruling power in Venezuela.
Machado grew up in a well-off family and was originally an industrial engineer before entering politics in 2002 during the era of. President Hugo Chávez. She founded the organization Súmate to support free and fair elections. In 2010, she was elected to the Venezuelan parliament with a record number of votes but was removed from office in 2014 during the presidency of. Nicolás Maduro. Accused of "rebellion" for attending the Organization of American States (OAS) meeting, which the government said violated the constitution, along with other allegations.
In 2023, she won the opposition's nomination to run against President Maduro in the 2024 presidential election with overwhelming support over 92%, but the Venezuelan authorities disqualified her politically for 15 years, citing accusations of supporting sanctions against Venezuela and other political charges.
This led Machado to support. Edmundo González Urrutia, another party’s candidate. They mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers nationwide to monitor the election to prevent fraud. Opposition exit polls showed Machado and allies winning, but official results declared President Maduro the winner, prompting widespread doubts about fraud. Several countries, including the U.S., Argentina, Peru, and Costa Rica, refused to accept the results and demanded transparency.
Since the August 2024 election, Machado has been living in hiding due to threats on her life but continues her political struggle.
"The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to a courageous and determined peace advocate, a woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid growing darkness,"
said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, when announcing the award.
"At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to jointly protect its foundations."
References:nobelprize, time