A somber atmosphere of disappointment descended upon the Venezuelan community that traveled to Oslo to celebrate María Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize on the morning of Wednesday, December 10.

After two days of speculation, rumors, confirmations of her presence followed by denials, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that the Venezuelan opposition leader will not be at the awards ceremony.

But hours later came a new announcement: “Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado has done everything in her power to attend today’s ceremony. A journey under extremely dangerous circumstances. Although she will not be able to attend the ceremony or today’s events, we are deeply happy to confirm that she is safe and will be with us in Oslo.”

Ana Corina Sosa Machado, her eldest daughter, received the prestigious and well-deserved award for the 25 years of struggle against tyranny waged by her mother. “We advance armed only with conviction,” she said in her acceptance speech on behalf of her mother.

“Peace is ultimately an act of love… Venezuela will breathe again… We will fall in love again. The streets will be filled with joy,” she affirmed. Salud Hernández-Mora, present at the ceremony, stated:

“The photograph of María Corina Machado presided over a solemn, moving, and intimate ceremony, despite the somewhat austere, spacious hall of Oslo City Hall. The King and Queen of Norway, four Latin American presidents—from Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, and Paraguay—as well as Iván Duque and Martha Lucía Ramírez, the only former Colombian leaders present, gave a standing ovation, as did the rest of the attendees, to the absent leader and her tireless fight for the freedom of her nation.

“The words of the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee were an ode to the democratic resistance of Venezuela. A powerful, devastating speech against tyranny, a reflection of María Corina Machado's struggle over the past twenty years. He clearly explained the reasons why they decided to award her the Nobel Peace Prize.

“‘As a leader of Venezuela’s democratic movement, María Corina Machado is one of the most extraordinary examples of courage in recent Latin American history,’ said Jorgen Watne Frydness. And, referring to the 2024 electoral process, he stated that ‘it was an unprecedented grassroots mobilization in Venezuela and probably in the entire world… The efforts of this democratic movement, both before and after the elections, were innovative and courageous, peaceful and profoundly democratic,’” Hernández-Mora reported from Oslo.

Machado was accompanied by her grandmother, Corina Parisca de Machado, who appeared emotional. Also present were Venezuela's president-elect, Edmundo González, and other heads of state, including Javier Milei of Argentina. Following the speech, the ceremony concluded with a performance of the Venezuelan national anthem by Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, prompting a standing ovation from all Venezuelans in attendance. Watch the ceremony

And, as Machado herself said, it was not only a recognition of her personal effort and sacrifices, but also of that of an entire people in their endeavor to one day live in democracy.

Minutes earlier, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, declared: “Mr. Maduro: You must accept the election results and resign… You must lay the groundwork 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 lies, and no fear can extinguish.”

The Nobel laureate’s mother gave a brief statement as she left the hotel:

“My love, we love you so much. We love you more than ever. But not because you won an award, although that certainly helps, but because you are who you are. Cori, my darling, we miss you so much, but we know you're here in a little corner of each of our hearts.”

The Nobel committee then published an audio recording in which María Corina herself narrates what she has experienced these past few days:

“Well, personally, I’ll let you know, there are many things we had to go through, and so many people who risked their lives so that I could get to Oslo. And I am very grateful to them. And this is a measure of what this recognition means to the Venezuelan people. I want you to know that. So let’s begin, because I literally have to fly right now. I have to get on the plane. And first of all, on behalf of the Venezuelan people, I want to once again thank the Norwegian Nobel Committee for this immense recognition of our people’s struggle for democracy and freedom, and we feel very excited and very honored.”

“That’s why I’m so happy, and very happy to say that I won’t be there for the ceremony, but I’m going to Oslo, and I’m on my way there now. I know there are hundreds of Venezuelans from different parts of the world who were able to come to your city, who are in Oslo right now, as are my family, my team, and so many colleagues. And since this is an award for all Venezuelans, I believe it will be received by them, and soon, when I arrive, I’ll be able to hug my family and my children, whom I haven’t seen in two years, and so many Venezuelans and Norwegians who I know share our efforts. Thank you very much, and I’ll see you soon,” he added.

Martha Lucía Ramírez, former vice president of Colombia and who is in Oslo to accompany Machado, told SEMANA that the fact that the leader will not receive the award “does not mean that the prize is in question. It is a recognition of María Corina and all the Venezuelan people and the entire cause for liberation and democracy.”

“But if she doesn’t arrive, anyway, Venezuela is here, and it won’t just be here for today, but for the day that independence and democracy return to Miraflores again, hand in hand with María Corina and the president of Venezuela, Edmundo González,” he added.

Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar of Florida echoed this sentiment. “If she doesn’t come, it doesn’t matter. She’s showing that she’s putting the Venezuelan cause above her personal interests. Because who wouldn’t want to come when you’re the one receiving the award, the Norwegians are rolling out the red carpet, and the international community is there to support you? There are few people like María Corina in the hemisphere.” The Venezuelans who had been gathering at the Grand Hotel since early morning appeared with sad faces, but at the same time, with a sense of resistance and indignation toward what they are experiencing under the Nicolás Maduro regime.

“Today Venezuela is making waves throughout the world,” said Antonio Ledezma, former mayor of Caracas.

"Let's understand that María Corina is a hostage of a regime and has to be in hiding... Today, Venezuela's voice resonates throughout the world," Antonio Ledezma tells Salud Hernández-Mora about the Venezuelan leader. She will ultimately not be able to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. https://t.co/if1kX8qDUN — Revista Semana (@RevistaSemana) December 10, 2025

“We are aware that it is a criminal regime that does not respect the laws and operates unjustly. We knew this was a possible scenario, but regardless of the situation, the Nobel Prize belongs to all Venezuelans and, as such, we will celebrate it from Oslo, while demanding the removal of this usurping regime,” said Luis Flórez, a member of Vente Mundo, Machado’s party.

For Iván Duque, the message of fighting tyranny remains unchanged: “María Corina, more than being focused on receiving the award, is focused on the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. If her absence contributes to that goal, we stand with her even more. From Norway, today, a very strong and necessary platform is being given to the Venezuelan community to confront this atrocious regime that must come to an end.”