Machado was recognised “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” said Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Nobel Committee in Oslo.
Described as “a key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided… in a brutal authoritarian state now facing a humanitarian and economic crisis,” Machado was hailed as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.” The committee noted that she has been forced into hiding over the past year but has chosen to remain in Venezuela, inspiring millions despite serious threats to her life.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump had openly expressed his hopes of winning the prize this year, citing his role in resolving conflicts. However, Nobel experts in Oslo had dismissed his chances, arguing that his “America First” policies are at odds with the ideals of the Peace Prize as outlined in Alfred Nobel’s will. Last year, the award went to Japanese anti-nuclear group Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Peace Prize includes a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of $1.2 million. The formal ceremony will be held in Oslo on December 10, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.
The Nobel Peace Prize is the only category awarded in Oslo, while the other Nobel prizes are announced in Stockholm. On Thursday, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Hungarian author Laszlo Krasznahorkai, celebrated for his works exploring postmodern dystopia and melancholy. The 2025 Nobel season will conclude on Monday with the announcement of the economics prize.
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