The United Nations Security Council ( UN ) was the scene of intense demonstrations this Friday in support of the Venezuelan opposition leader , recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 , for her “tireless work in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
The political leader, who has been in hiding since January due to persecution by Nicolás Maduro's Chavista regime, was recognized in Oslo as global attention grew on the crisis in Venezuela. The focus of the international debate focused on condemnation of the repression, the legitimacy of the recent elections, and the country's democratic future.
Panama, represented on the UN Security Council, celebrated the award to Machado and recalled her role in protecting key documents: “Faced with this situation, there are brave voices rising up to confront one of the most severe dictatorships in our region. Panama celebrates this recent news and congratulates María Corina Machado for being awarded today the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of her tireless fight for freedom, democracy and the rights of the Venezuelan people.”
Ricardo Moscoso, Panama's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was emphatic in stating:"Panama wishes to make it clear that it does not recognize the authoritarian regime that has kept Venezuelans mired in one of the worst political, social, humanitarian, and criminal crises in our region. Panama is, with profound pride, the custodian of the records that unquestionably confirm that the President of the Bolivarian Republic is His Excellency Edmundo González."
In the same session, Jennifer MacNaughtan, Minister Counselor of the United Kingdom, harshly criticized the Venezuelan authorities and reaffirmed her support for the opposition struggle."The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and their right to democracy, freedom, and human dignity. Nicolás Maduro's claim to power is fraudulent. The National Electoral Council of Venezuela has yet to publish the full results of the July 2024 elections, which were neither free nor fair."
According to London, “The Venezuelan authorities have continued to deepen repression and further erode the fundamental rights of all Venezuelans. More than 800 Venezuelans remain arbitrarily detained, with reports of enforced disappearances against opposition members, human rights defenders, and independent media outlets. This must stop. Human rights must be protected, and the democratic will of the Venezuelan people must be respected.”
The British delegation also publicly congratulated Machado:"She is an inspirational person who has been steadfast in her fight for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Venezuela."
Jay Dharmadhikari, Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, took the opportunity to reaffirm his solidarity with the Venezuelan people and underline the symbolic value of the Nobel Prize awarded to Machado."France wishes to express its solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the crisis they are experiencing. In this regard, France values the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, which rewards the commitment of the Venezuelan opposition to democracy. France reiterates its call for the resumption of dialogue among all stakeholders in order to return to stability in Venezuela."
From Denmark, Machado's recognition was also express and linked to the demand for political reforms."We want to congratulate Ms. María Corina Machado on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. We recognize and commend her work for free and fair elections, civil and political rights, and the rule of law in Venezuela," declared Denmark's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Sandra Jensen Landi.
International support for Machado's Nobel Prize included Greece, whose delegate described her as"an inspiring figure of peace, democracy, and freedom."
In her first public reaction to the award, María Corina Machado, who has remained in hiding since her last appearance at a January 9 protest in Caracas, said on the X network:"The Venezuelan people have received this recognition from the Norwegian Nobel Committee with immense emotion and renewed hope."
In her statement, she expressed that the greatest tribute to Alfred Nobel will be “to win freedom for Venezuela and thus achieve peace.” Machado affirmed that Venezuelans have “suffered 26 years of violence and humiliation at the hands of a tyranny obsessed with subjugating citizens and breaking the soul of the nation,” listing “detentions, torture, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions” that—in her words—“constitute crimes against humanity and state terrorism.” The opposition leader described the award as “a unique boost that injects energy and confidence into Venezuelans, inside and outside the country, to complete” the task of restoring democracy.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, based in Oslo, based its decision on Machado's"tireless work" in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and his struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."
The impact of the announcement was reflected in the messages issued by the delegations of Guatemala, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Portugal and personalities such as the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, and former US President Barack Obama, who conveyed their congratulations to the Venezuelan opposition leader.
