It’s not US President Donald Trump or Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. It’s María Corina Machado who won the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2025.
María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan politician and industrial engineer who is currently the opposition leader in Venezuela. She is the National Coordinator of the political party Vente Venezuela and previously served as an elected member of the National Assembly of Venezuela from 2011 to 2014.
She was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for the following reasons, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee:
For her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.”
For her “struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
The committee specifically noted her as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who keeps the flame of democracy burning.
A key, unifying figure in the Venezuelan political opposition.
A leader who has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy and in resisting the militarization of Venezuelan society.
She has stood up for free and fair elections for over 20 years, for which the committee quoted her: “It was a choice of ballots over bullets.” Despite facing serious threats and being forced to live in hiding, she has remained in Venezuela, which the committee stated has “inspired millions of people.”
