Dashing the hopes of US President Donald Trump, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s main opposition leader, on Friday.
The Nobel Committee said Machado was chosen for her non-violent struggle to restore democracy in Venezuela, describing democracy as “a precondition for lasting peace” amid a global retreat of democratic values.
BREAKING NEWS
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 #NobelPeacePrize to Maria Corina Machado for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to… pic.twitter.com/Zgth8KNJk9– The Nobel Prize (@nobelprze) October 10, 2025
Machado, who won 92% of the 2023 opposition primary vote despite government pressure, was barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election by President Nicolás Maduro’s government. She later backed opposition candidate Edmundo González, whose disputed victory sparked protests and allegations of electoral fraud.
Responding to questions on Trump’s nomination, the Nobel Committee said: “In the long history, this committee has seen many requests, letters, etc. This committee sits in a room of portraits of all laureates & that is filled with courage & integrity. We base our decision only on the work & the will of Alfred Nobel.”
