Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was honored with the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy of democratic rights, but was unable to attend Tuesday’s ceremony in Oslo due to safety concerns amid ongoing political instability in her country. Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on her mother’s behalf in a moving ceremony attended by Norway’s King Harald V, where a message from Machado underscored the sacrifices made in the fight for freedom in Venezuela. The circumstances surrounding Machado’s perilous journey to reach Oslo-which included a covert departure from Venezuela and travel delays-highlight the risks faced by those challenging the Maduro regime.
Oslo, Norway – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was unable to accept the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize in person on Tuesday, despite a determined effort to reach Oslo for the ceremony. The Nobel Committee confirmed Machado faced significant danger attempting to travel, a situation that underscores the political turmoil within Venezuela.
Machado was awarded the prize for her work promoting democratic rights in Venezuela. In a call with Nobel Committee Chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes, released just before the gala, Machado expressed her disappointment, stating, “I am very sad and I am very sorry that I will not be able to arrive on time for the ceremony.” She added, “Many people have risked their lives for me to be able to get to Oslo.”
Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the diploma and gold medal on her mother’s behalf during the ceremony, which was attended by Norway’s King Harald V and met with a standing ovation.
Delivering remarks written by Machado, Sosa stated, “If we want to have democracy, we must be willing to fight for freedom. Freedom is conquered every day, to the extent that we are willing to fight for it. That is why the cause of Venezuela transcends our borders. A people who choose to be free not only liberate themselves, but contribute to all of humanity.”
The speech also highlighted Venezuela’s history as a haven for those fleeing conflict and oppression. “We were also a refuge. We opened our arms to migrants and exiles from all corners of the world: Spaniards fleeing the civil war, Italians and Portuguese escaping poverty and dictatorships, Jews leaving behind the Holocaust, Chileans, Argentinians and Uruguayans fleeing military regimes, Cubans who repudiated communism and entire families from Colombia, Lebanon and Syria seeking peace. We gave them a home, school and security, and they all became Venezuelans,” Sosa read. “This is Venezuela. We built a democracy that became the most stable in Latin America, unleashing all the creative force of freedom.”
Machado’s message continued, emphasizing the importance of actively defending liberty. “Even the strongest democracy weakens when its citizens forget that freedom is not something we should expect, but something we must bring to life. It is a personal, conscious decision, whose daily practice shapes a civic ethic that must be renewed every day.”
Machado also pledged to return to Venezuela for those forced to flee the government of Nicolás Maduro, promising, “I will be there, again, on the Simón Bolívar Bridge, on the border with Colombia, where once I cried among the thousands who were leaving, to welcome them back to the bright life that awaits us.”
Difficult Journey to Norway
The Nobel Institute initially reported that Machado had departed Venezuela but would be unable to attend the award ceremony due to the perilous nature of her travel. “She has done everything possible to attend today’s ceremony. A journey in an extremely dangerous situation,” the organization stated. “We are deeply happy to confirm that she is safe and will be with us in Oslo.”
Machado’s spokesperson, Claudia Macero, confirmed she would not be at the Nobel ceremony but remained optimistic about her participation in other scheduled events, without disclosing her current location.
According to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, Machado secretly left Venezuela by boat on Tuesday and traveled to Curaçao, a Caribbean island nation, as part of a covert effort to reach Norway and accept her Nobel Peace Prize. The move to keep the journey secret was intended to protect her safety.
The newspaper reported that allies of the Venezuelan opposition leader worked to keep the trip confidential to ensure her safety. Traveling to the Norwegian capital could potentially force Machado into exile, as she has spent much of the past year evading arrest within Venezuela.
In a phone call with Nobel Committee Chairman Frydnes, published on the institution’s website, Machado said, “So many people” had risked their lives to enable her travel to Oslo. “I am very grateful to them. And this is a demonstration of what this recognition means for the Venezuelan people,” she said, adding that she was about to board a plane. “We are very excited and very honored, and that is why I am very sad to inform you that I will not be able to arrive in time for the ceremony, but I will be in Oslo and I am heading to Oslo now.”
According to Bloomberg, Machado departed Venezuela on Tuesday with assistance from some members of President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, a development some U.S. officials interpret as a potential sign of willingness to cooperate should Maduro leave power.
Machado traveled by boat to Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island approximately 40 miles away, which also hosts a small U.S. military base. The journey was delayed for several hours due to inclement weather and rough seas, forcing her to miss the ceremony. The report indicates Machado received support from the administration of President Donald Trump, as well as from within Maduro’s government. Venezuelan officials have not yet responded to requests for comment and are likely to dispute the account.
Machado’s decision to leave Venezuela presents both opportunities and risks for her and the Maduro regime, according to the news agency. Supporters believe a successful return to Venezuela following the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony could strengthen her position, while others caution that a defiant Maduro could block her return and force her into exile, a fate that has previously weakened other opposition leaders.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized Machado for “her tireless work in promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” However, some observers have suggested Machado favors military conflict to achieve a transition from Maduro’s autocratic rule.
During the award ceremony, the Nobel Committee Chairman urged Maduro to accept the results of the 2024 elections and step down. “Mr. Maduro: You must accept the election results and resign from your position,” Jørgen Watne Frydnes said before being interrupted by applause from the audience in Oslo City Hall. “You must lay the foundations for a peaceful transition to democracy. Because that is the will of the Venezuelan people. María Corina Machado and the Venezuelan opposition have lit a flame that no torture, no lie and no fear will be able to extinguish.”
