Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said her Nobel Peace Prize represents not just personal recognition but a powerful statement of global solidarity with Venezuelans fighting to reclaim democracy under President Nicolás Maduro’s rule.
Machado, a longtime advocate for democratic reform and human rights, called the award “a victory for the Venezuelan people,” many of whom continue to endure repression, economic hardship, and political persecution.
The Nobel Committee’s decision, she said, validates years of peaceful resistance against an increasingly authoritarian government.
Forced into hiding amid government crackdowns on dissent, Machado has remained one of Maduro’s most outspoken critics. Her movement continues to push for transparent elections and the restoration of civil liberties in a country where political opposition is often met with intimidation and imprisonment.
The Nobel Peace Prize has cast new international attention on Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, where millions have fled the country due to poverty and political instability. Global leaders and human rights groups hailed the recognition, urging renewed diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to support Venezuelans seeking democratic change.
Despite the risks, Machado remains resolute. “This is not my victory alone,” she said. “It belongs to every Venezuelan who refuses to give up on freedom.”