Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her “courageous and committed defense of democracy” in Venezuela. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her tireless fight for democratic rights and her efforts to achieve a peaceful and fair transition from dictatorship to democracy.

“I can’t believe it! Oh my God!” Machado exclaimed in a video shared on social media as she celebrated the news with her ally González. The committee called her struggle “one of the most extraordinary examples of civil courage in Latin America in recent times.”

Widely known as MCM, Machado has been one of the strongest voices opposing Nicolás Maduro. Although she was banned from running in the 2024 presidential election —which was widely dismissed internationally as fraudulent— she emerged as a unifying symbol of democratic resistance.

The announcement comes amid rising tensions. Donald Trump has ordered a naval deployment off Venezuela’s coast, fueling speculation of a possible regime change. Maduro remains in power, backed by the military and key international allies such as China and Russia.

The Nobel Committee also highlighted the humanitarian toll of Venezuela’s crisis: more than eight million people have fled the country, extreme poverty has deepened, and political repression has intensified. In this scenario, Machado’s figure has become a powerful symbol of hope for millions of Venezuelans longing for democratic change.