Oslo, Norway: October 10, 2025: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions, announced today at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. The honour marks a defining moment in global efforts to uphold democracy, human rights, and political freedom.

Machado, a long-time advocate for democratic reform and a prominent figure opposing Venezuela’s authoritarian rule, was selected from among 338 nominees, including 244 individuals and 94 organisations. The Nobel Committee praised her courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to restoring democratic governance in her country despite years of political persecution and personal risk.

Among this year’s nominees was former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had publicly claimed he deserved the award for his role in “stopping multiple wars.” However, experts had deemed his chances of winning the 124-year-old prize slim. Other strong contenders included Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms, recognised for their humanitarian efforts amid conflict, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for defending press freedom worldwide.

The Nobel Peace Prize includes a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.2 million), along with a gold medal and diploma, to be formally presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Last year’s Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese anti-nuclear organisation representing atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, honouring their decades-long advocacy for a nuclear-free world. The 2025 award to Maria Corina Machado continues the Nobel Committee’s tradition of recognising individuals who champion peace, democracy, and human rights under the most challenging circumstances.