On the night of 10‑11 December, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado appeared publicly in Oslo, Norway, after more than a year in hiding, having accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
Machado’s Oslo Debut
María Corina Machado appeared publicly for the first time in 11 months, emerging from the window of the Grand Hotel in Oslo during the night of 10‑11 December, according to The Guardian.
Overcoming Barriers
During the ceremony, she leapt over barriers to greet the crowd, sang together with attendees, sprayed kisses, and exchanged roses with supporters who shouted her name and raised phones to record the historic moment.
Life in Seclusion
NBC News reports that Machado has been in hiding since 9 January, when she was briefly detained by Nicolás Maduro’s regime after joining a protest in Caracas.
Family Separation
She has not seen her children for about two years, as they left Venezuela for safety. “For more than 16 months I could not hug or touch anyone,” she said, adding that suddenly, within hours, she could encounter the people she loves most and cry and pray with them.
Historic Moment
The gathering was marked by supporters shouting her name, holding up phones, and celebrating her return after a prolonged period of evading government restrictions.
