The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader praised for her relentless fight for democratic rights and pushing for a peaceful shift away from authoritarian rule. In a phone call from the Nobel committee, Machado expressed deep humility, saying she “does not deserve it” but dedicating the honor to Venezuelans enduring repression.

Her political path has been fraught. Though she won a landslide in the 2023 opposition primary, authorities barred her from contesting the 2024 presidential election. For over a year, she has lived in hiding, under threat, yet remained a unified symbol for a divided opposition. Machado’s economic vision leans liberal reform, even as she fights for social justice, targeting long-standing distortions under Venezuela’s ruling regime. 

The Nobel Committee framed the award as hope—not just for Venezuela, but for democracies everywhere under pressure. With the ceremony scheduled for December 10 in Oslo, Machado’s win ignites questions: Will this bolster internal resistance? Will it shift international leverage? For now, her victory stands as a potent signal: even in hostile environments, a voice of dissent may yet be honoured.