The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held on Wednesday, December 10th in Oslo, Norway, awarding Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado in recognition of her arduous struggle for democratic transition in her country. However, Machado herself was unable to attend the ceremony due to extreme safety concerns, and her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on her behalf.
Over the past year, Machado has been forced to hide within Venezuela to evade arrest by the Maduro regime. According to U.S. officials, Machado took secret actions to make it to the award ceremony.
She left Venezuela by boat on Tuesday, December 9th, heading to the Caribbean island nation of Curaçao. Her allies made significant efforts to keep this journey confidential.
Although she was on her way to Oslo, she ultimately did not make it in time for the ceremony on Wednesday.
Nobel Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes confirmed at the ceremony that Machado is currently safe, emphasizing that she “had made every effort to be able to attend,” describing it as an “extremely dangerous journey.”
In a phone recording released through the Nobel website, Machado expressed her regret for not being able to make it to the ceremony, stating that many risked their lives to help her make the journey, but she assured, “I will make it to Oslo.”
Various Latin American leaders attended the award ceremony in a show of support for Machado and the democratic cause in Venezuela. Among the dignitaries present were Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, as well as American officials and lawmakers.
Machado’s daughter, Corina Sosa, read the acceptance speech on behalf of her mother, conveying the core message that “to have democracy, we must be willing to fight for freedom.” Sosa also mentioned that she has not seen her mother for two years and hopes for a reunion in a free country soon.
Upon learning of her peace prize win on October 10th, Machado mentioned dedicating the award to the Venezuelan people and former U.S. President Trump, thanking him for his “decisive support” to their cause.
As a conservative figure, Machado has maintained close ties with the Trump administration and Republican officials, advocating for Washington to take a stronger stance against the Venezuelan government.
Currently, the Trump administration is amassing military forces in the Caribbean region to continue combating drug trafficking and putting pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military has conducted several lethal strikes against drug trafficking vessels, and Trump has warned of further military actions starting “from land.”
Nobel Committee Chairman Frydnes, in his address, took a strong stance by directly addressing the Maduro regime, stating, “Your power is not eternal. Your violence will not prevail over the uprising people.”
He praised Machado as “one of the most outstanding examples of civilian courage” and demanded that Maduro “accept the election results – step down.”
Although Machado won the opposition primaries last year, she was later barred from running by the government, leading former diplomat Edmundo González to replace her as the presidential candidate. González is currently in exile in Spain and also attended the award ceremony.
Machado faces significant political risks in leaving her country. The Venezuelan prosecutor general stated that if she were to go to Norway, she would be considered a fugitive. Exile may weaken her influence domestically, but Machado firmly assures her supporters at home, saying, “I will return.”
(**This article referenced reports from the Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal**)