María Corina Machado said she “counts on Donald Trump” and other nations in the fight to restore democracy in Venezuela.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said her Nobel Peace Prize win was a recognition of the “struggle of all Venezuelans," dedicating the award to the “suffering people" of her country and to US President Donald Trump for his “decisive support" of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Maria Corina Machado wrote, “This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom. We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy."
She added, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause!"
This recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans is a boost to conclude our task: to conquer Freedom.We are on the threshold of victory and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic…
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 10, 2025
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Maria Corina Machado was chosen “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."
A former opposition presidential candidate, Maria Corina Machado is seen as a unifying figure in Venezuela’s once-divided opposition. She won a landslide victory in the opposition’s 2023 primary but was barred from contesting the 2024 election against President Nicolás Maduro, which international observers said was marred by irregularities. Maria Corina Machado went into hiding after the vote but has continued to urge international pressure on the Nicolas Maduro government to restore democracy.
Maria Corina Machado has previously praised Donald Trump for what she called his “unwavering support" of Venezuela’s democratic transition. Earlier this year, the US President publicly warned Nicolas Maduro on social media following Maria Corina Machado’s brief detention during a protest, saying, “These freedom fighters should not be harmed."
With the honour, Maria Corina Machado becomes the 20th woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901. She also shared the European Union’s 2024 Sakharov Prize for Human Rights with opposition ally Edmundo Gonzalez.
view comments
First Published:
October 10, 2025, 19:38 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to ourTerms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...
