Maria Corina Machado... The "Liberator" Who Won the Nobel Peace Prize from the Heart of the Battle

The Venezuelan activist Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025, in recognition of her leadership role in the democratic movement in Venezuela. Although she has been living in hiding since the controversial presidential elections of 2024, she still represents the spirit of the opposition in the country.

After being excluded from the presidential race, Machado supported the candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Orotia, who described her award as "a fair recognition of the struggle of a woman and an entire people for freedom and democracy." She succeeded in rallying crowds behind him and called for the collection of polling station records to prove the opposition's victory, despite the electoral authority announcing President Nicolas Maduro's victory.

Machado chose to stay in Venezuela despite the threats, while Gonzalez Orotia was forced into exile after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Machado continues her activism from a secret location, affirming in previous statements that she "will not negotiate Venezuela's freedom for her personal freedom."

Machado emerged strongly in the opposition primaries in 2023, where she received more than 90% of the votes. Since then, she has been known by the title "The Liberator," in honor of Simon Bolivar, and has topped opinion polls thanks to her candidness and bravery, raising her campaign slogan "Until the End."

After being banned from traveling by plane, Machado traveled across the country by car, attracting huge crowds at every appearance, amidst cheers, tears, and pushing, becoming a living symbol of civil resistance.

The electoral commission announced Maduro's victory with 52%, but did not publish the complete results, citing a hacking incident. In contrast, the opposition published polling station records showing Gonzalez Orotia's victory with 67%, which the authorities rejected and considered "fraud."

Machado received widespread international support after her call to document the election results, as the United States, the European Union, and several Latin American countries refused to recognize the official election results.

Machado previously won the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2024, at which time she stated that the award represents "a tribute to every political prisoner, exile, and citizen fighting for what they believe in."

The Venezuelan opposition led by Machado adopts a liberal approach, calling for the privatization of the national oil company "Petroleos de Venezuela," which has seen its productivity decline due to corruption and mismanagement.

In her last speech, Machado pledged to "liberate the country and bring its children back home," referring to more than seven million Venezuelans who left the country due to the chronic economic crisis.