A pre-dawn cellphone name from the Norwegian Nobel Institute to Venezuela on Friday morning captured a real second of shock and emotion. Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, known as Venezuelan opposition chief María Corina Machado—his palms and voice each shaking—to ship the information.
“Oh my god,” she mentioned repeatedly.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute released the audio recording of the call on YouTube, X, and different social media simply minutes earlier than the official announcement in Oslo. Harpviken, talking from Oslo, informed Machado: “I’m calling to tell you that in a couple of minutes it shall be introduced right here on the Nobel Institute that you can be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025.” After her repeated exclamations of shock, he quoted instantly from the official announcement, explaining she was receiving the prize “for her tireless work selling democratic rights for the folks of Venezuela and for her battle to attain a simply and peaceable transition from dictatorship to democracy.”
“I have no words,” Machado said during the phone call. “I thank you so much. But I hope you understand this is a movement. This is an achievement of a whole society. I am just one person. I certainly do not deserve this.”
Machado said she felt “honored, humbled, and very grateful on behalf of the Venezuelan people,” but added, “we’re not there yet. We’re working very hard to achieve it, but I’m sure that we will prevail, and this is certainly the biggest recognition to our people that certainly deserve it.”
María Corina Machado: A Leader in hiding
A 58-year-old industrial engineer, Machado—who got the nickname of Venezuela’s “Iron Lady” as a consequence of her adoration of, and similarities to, former U.Okay. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher—has spent a lot of the previous 12 months dwelling in hiding inside Venezuela, dealing with loss of life threats and an arrest warrant from President Nicolás Maduro’s authorities. The Norwegian Nobel Committee described her as “one of the extraordinary examples of civilian braveness in Latin America in current instances” and praised her as a “key, unifying determine in a political opposition that was as soon as deeply divided.”
Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, emphasized the significance of her decision to remain in Venezuela despite the personal risk.
“Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions,” he said during Friday’s announcement.
Machado’s recognition comes as Venezuela has undergone what the Nobel Committee called a transformation “from a relatively democratic and prosperous country to a brutal, authoritarian state that is now suffering a humanitarian and economic crisis.” Most Venezuelans now live in deep poverty despite the country’s vast oil reserves, with nearly 8 million people having fled the country.
The crisis intensified following Venezuela’s disputed July 2024 presidential election. Machado was barred from working regardless of profitable the opposition major, main her to help Edmundo González Urrutia because the opposition candidate. Whereas the government-controlled Nationwide Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner with 51% of the vote, the opposition offered proof from 80% of polling stations exhibiting González had gained decisively.
González fled to Spain in September 2024 after an arrest warrant was issued, however Machado selected to stay in Venezuela. She made a brief public appearance during opposition protests in January, however has in any other case remained hid.
A life of opposition
Born in Caracas on Oct. 7, 1967, Machado comes from an upper-class family and earned levels in industrial engineering and finance earlier than coming into politics in 2002 as cofounder of Súmate, a vote-monitoring group. She served within the Nationwide Meeting of Venezuela from 2011 to 2014, profitable a document variety of votes, earlier than being expelled by the regime.
Machado leads the Vente Venezuela opposition party and helped found the Soy Venezuela alliance in 2017, uniting pro-democracy forces throughout political divides. She established the Atenea Basis in 1992 to assist avenue youngsters in Caracas and was a Yale World Fellow, and each Machado and González have been awarded the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize in December 2024.
The White Home criticized the Nobel Committee’s determination on Friday, with spokesman Steven Cheung posting on X: “President Trump will proceed making peace offers, ending wars, and saving lives… The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.” Trump had repeatedly claimed he deserved the award for his function in resolving conflicts, together with the current Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
In her post-award interview with the Nobel Institute, Machado emphasised the collective nature of Venezuela’s democratic battle.
“I settle for this as a recognition to our folks, to the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans which can be nameless and are risking every part they’ve for freedom, justice and peace,” she mentioned.
Whether Machado will be able to attend the December ceremony in Oslo remains uncertain due to security concerns. When asked about her chances of attending, she expressed optimism: “I trust the Venezuelan people and I trust our allies. I definitely believe we are in the final stage of a very long, painful struggle for freedom. Certainly it would be the highest honor to represent my country and meet you personally.”
The prize carries a monetary award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.15 million). Machado becomes only the 20th woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901 and the first Venezuelan recipient. For now, she remains in hiding in Venezuela, continuing her fight for democracy in what the Nobel Committee describes as an increasingly authoritarian world.
You can watch Machado learn the news of her award in the Nobel Prize’s video below.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
