Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has been named the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her steadfast advocacy for democratic rights and her efforts to lead her country toward a peaceful political transition. The announcement was made by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday.

The committee highlighted Machado’s courage in standing up to authoritarian rule, noting that “when authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

This year’s award focuses on Venezuela, a nation struggling with political unrest and a prolonged democratic crisis, even as former US President Donald Trump dominated public discourse by repeatedly claiming he deserved the prize. Experts had earlier predicted that Trump would not be a contender, citing his actions as contrary to the principles of international cooperation that the Nobel Committee values.

The Nobel Peace Prize, carrying a reward of 11 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.2 million), will be officially presented in Oslo on 10 December, marking the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, the founder of the awards.