Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her “tireless work in promoting democratic rights for the Venezuelan people and her fight for a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
Approximately two years ago, in an interview, María Corina Machado explained that her surname “Machado” originates from “a family from Portugal with several centuries in Venezuela, settled in Ciudad Bolivar, in the state of Bolivar, in the south of Venezuela.”
“Therefore, we have common ancestors, a common origin,” she said emotionally at the time.
The moment she learned about the Nobel: “Oh, my God”
The moment when María Corina Machado was informed that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize was shared on the organization’s social media on Friday. Images show an emotional winner, alongside an equally emotional announcer.
María Corina Machado expressed disbelief upon learning she had been selected for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, stating that she “did not deserve it” and that it was a prize for a movement in Venezuela. She expressed gratitude while acknowledging that much work remains to be done to achieve democracy in the country.
Ana Teresa Banha | 17:42 – 10/10/2025
Who is María Corina Machado?
Born in 1967 in Venezuela, María Corina Machado is a leading voice in the democratic opposition to Nicolás Maduro’s regime, having been a favored candidate in the presidential elections of July 2024.
However, she was barred from running when, in January 2024, the Supreme Court, aligned with Maduro’s government, prohibited her from holding public office for 15 years.
This Nobel Prize is the only one awarded in Oslo by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, with other categories announced in Stockholm, Sweden.
This year, 338 individuals and organizations were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, with the list remaining secret for 50 years.
The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place on December 10 in Oslo, commemorating the death anniversary of the organization’s founder, Alfred Nobel.
Worldwide reactions
The reactions to this award varied, mixing congratulations and recognition with discussions involving Donald Trump.
The former U.S. president campaigned extensively, claiming he deserved the prize for resolving various conflicts.
In Portugal, the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, praised the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, describing it as a “very wise” decision.
“I do not want to miss the opportunity to warmly congratulate the laureate, who has been fighting for democracy and freedom for a long time […], she is a woman, a constant presence in the struggle, and fighting in very, very difficult conditions,” said the head of state in Tallinn after a meeting of the Arraiolos Group.
Reactions to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado vary between those who praise a “very fair” distinction and those who believe Trump deserved the award.
Ana Teresa Banha with Lusa | 19:28 – 10/10/2025
