The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s prominent opposition leader, currently in hiding, dashing the hopes of US President Donald Trump, who had claimed he deserved the prize for resolving “eight wars.”
Machado, often referred to as Venezuela’s Iron Lady for her relentless advocacy for democratic rights, was also named in Time Magazine’s ‘The 100 Most Influential People of 2025’ list.
Machado has been in hiding since the controversial Venezuelan election in 2024, widely regarded as rigged by incumbent President Nicolas Maduro. The Nobel Committee’s decision is likely to irk Trump, who has recently intensified his criticism of Maduro, accusing him of overseeing drug trafficking operations in Venezuela and halting all diplomatic efforts with the country. However, the choice of Machado is unlikely to significantly impact Trump, given his ongoing disputes with Maduro’s regime.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee recognised Machado for her “tireless work” in promoting democratic rights for Venezuelans and for her “struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”. The committee praised her as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who “keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness”.
There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to US President Donald Trump, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week's approval of his plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, said, “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year from people wanting to say what they leads to peace.
"This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel,” he added.
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