On Oct. 10, María Corina Machado was given the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in Venezuela.
The Nobel Peace Prize is a prize that has existed since the beginning of the 20th century. It revolves around the aspect of reducing conflict and creating welfare for citizens all around the world, or as Alfred Nobel himself put it, its recipient will be “who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotions of peace congresses.”
Many voices were spreading, as of late, around social media about who should receive this year’s prize. Many shouted their support for Greta Thunberg due to her support and activism with the Global Sumud Flotilla. Others voiced their opinions on whether or not President Donald Trump should be considered for his work with the Israel-Palestine conflicts and the latest on the peace agreements he was able to help organize.
On Oct. 10, María Corina Machado, however, was selected for her work in peacebuilding in Venezuela.
She is recognized as a conservative that was a previous member of the national assembly and who has been a “driving force” in the opposition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro and his repressive regime.
Machado herself had tried to run for presidency, but after she was stopped from doing so, she took to living in hiding after President Maduro found her as a source of opposition after his fraudulent election in 2024.
The official biography that the Nobel website gives Machado states her win and reasoning for it as a right, “Ms. Machado is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize first and foremost for her efforts to advance democracy in Venezuela.”
“Democracy is also in retreat internationally. Democracy – understood as the right to freely express one’s opinion, to cast one’s vote and to be represented in elective government – is the foundation of peace both within countries and between countries,” the website said.
CNN shared that President Trump and Machado have actually spoken over the phone in regard to her win. Both were very amicable to her winning the title and President Trump has been trying to aid her in various ways.
“The person who actually got the Nobel Prize called today, called me and said, ‘I’m accepting this in honor of you, because you really deserved it,’” Trump said. “A very nice thing to do. I didn’t, I didn’t say, ‘Then give it to me,’ though I think she might have. She was very nice.”
He further added in regard to their conversation that, “I’ve been helping her along the way,” Trump added. “They need a lot of help in Venezuela; it’s a basic disaster. So, and you could also say it was given out for ‘24 and I was running for office in ‘24.”
The Nobel Peace Prize announcer and Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, stated that, “She is an extraordinary example of civilian courage.”
According to the Prize Announcement page, “Watne Frydnes also says he hopes the prize conveys a message for Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro and other authoritarian leaders, and he hopes that the prize will inspire people working for democracy all around the world.”
“We want to send a message to all authoritarian leaders: choose ballots, not bullets.”
Machando’s win proves that problem-solving through peaceful resolutions can be rewarding for oneself and their nation.
