Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was announced as the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on 25 November 2025 for her relentless struggle to bring democratic change to Venezuela.
Announcement by the Norwegian Nobel Committee
At a ceremony held after 11:00 am, Joergen Watne Frydenes, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, declared that Maria Corina Machado had been chosen as the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He emphasized Machado’s unwavering work for the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and her fight for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Machado’s Background and Campaign
Born in 1967 in Caracas, Machado is a prominent opposition leader against President Nicolás Maduro. She ran as an opposition candidate in the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election, only to have her candidacy blocked by the ruling regime. Later, she supported the candidate from another party, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, in the elections. Her leadership has made her one of the most remarkable examples of civil courage in Latin America.
The Nobel Selection Process
This year, 338 nominations were received for the prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. The award recognizes “the best work for brotherhood among nations, the elimination or reduction of armed forces, and the promotion of peace societies.” The committee’s decision was made by a five‑member panel and announced at the same ceremony where Frydenes explained that the decision had already been made and known to six people.
Other Notable Candidates
Former U.S. President Donald Trump was listed as a candidate, with his nomination supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. German media reported on the possibility of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, suggesting that even Trump’s critics could acknowledge such a development as a significant achievement. A newspaper from Heidelberg compared Trump’s record with that of former President Barack Obama, who received the peace prize in 2009.
