Dashing the hopes of US President Donald Trump, the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s main opposition leader who is in hiding, on Friday. Machado, also known as Venezuela’s Iron Lady for her work in promoting democratic rights, found her name in Time Magazine’s ‘The 100 Most Influential People of 2025’ list.
The 58-year-old Venezuelan politician has been in hiding following last year’s election that was widely seen as having been rigged by the incumbent President Nicolas Maduro.
While the development will no doubt rankle Trump, who has repeatedly argued he deserved to win the prize for resolving “eight wars”, the choice of Machado will not hurt the eccentric Republican. In recent months, Trump has opened a front against Maduro over drug trafficking operations in Venezuela and has halted all diplomatic efforts.
Trump’s moves have fuelled speculation that the US might be pushing for regime change in the country.
In fact, Machado had thanked Trump in August, days after the US doubled its reward for Maduro’s capture to USD 50 million.
“We, Venezuelans, thank President Trump and his administration for their firm and decisive action to dismantle the criminal and terrorist structure that is illegitimately holding onto power in our country,” she had tweeted.
WHO IS MARIA CORINA MACHADO?
While making the announcement, the Nobel Committee said it was recognising Machado for her “tireless work” in promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, and for a “struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”.
The committee commended Machado as a “brave and committed champion of peace” who “keeps the flame of democracy burning during a growing darkness”.
Over the years, Machado has been a central figure in Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement, defying the authoritarian regime of Maduro. She has not only faced threats, but has also been arrested and faced travel bans and political persecution. However, despite the risks, she has remained in Venezuela, earning her the sobriquet ‘Iron Lady’.
In the 2024 presidential election, Machado was barred from running. Even as though the opposition claimed that it was the real winner, Maduro declared victory and cracked down on dissent, forcing Machado to go into hiding.
Machado, who holds a degree in industrial engineering, heads the National Coordinator of Vente Venezuela, a liberal political party she co-founded in 2013. She has also been a member of the National Assembly between 2010-2015.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR TRUMP?
The decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Machado defies a months-long public campaign by Trump, who would have been hoping to etch his name alongside Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama – US presidnets who have won the coveted award.
