Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her long-standing fight for democracy and freedom in her country.
The Nobel Committee made the announcement on Friday, praising her courage in standing up to an increasingly authoritarian regime.
In a statement shared on X, the Nobel Committee said Machado’s recognition comes at a time when democracy around the world is under threat.
“Democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence,” the committee stated.
Machado has for years been a central figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, advocating for political reforms and the protection of civil liberties.
She has faced repeated harassment, disqualification from elections, and restrictions on her political activities under President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
The committee noted that the challenges faced by Venezuela mirror global trends of democratic backsliding.
“The Venezuelan regime’s rigid hold on power and its repression of the population are not unique in the world. We see the same trends globally: rule of law abused by those in control, free media silenced, critics imprisoned, and societies pushed towards authoritarian rule and militarisation,” the Nobel announcement read.
Machado’s win places her among a growing list of activists and political figures recognized for championing democracy under pressure.
The committee also drew attention to the state of global elections, observing that although 2024 saw a record number of polls held worldwide, fewer met the standards of being free and fair.
The award is expected to amplify international attention on Venezuela’s political crisis and add pressure on the government to open democratic space.
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