The international spotlight turned to María Corina Machado last week, when she was named 2025 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Venezuelan politician has been celebrated for her advocacy for democracy, but has faced criticism for inviting foreign intervention in Venezuela, her support for Israel, and her praise of right wing politicians including US President Donald Trump. Trump himself had been publicly campaigning to receive the award.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of six prizes presented annually since 1901 in honour of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish chemist, inventor and businessman. Prize winners, also known as Nobel laureates, are chosen for their contributions to achieving peace. They receive a gold medal, a leather bound diploma, and a cash prize – this year worth 11 million Swedish krona, equivalent to nearly 871,000 pounds. The prize has been won by various world leaders, non-governmental organisations and individuals including Malala Yousafzai, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa.
Fifty-eight year old Machado is the 112th individual and 20th woman to be awarded the peace prize. She was recognised for “promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy”. Venezuela, led by President Nicolás Maduro, is described as ‘not free’ and authoritarian, scoring 2.25/10 in the Economist’s 2024 democracy index.
She dedicated her award to Trump, saying he deserved it, and that “the Venezuelan people are [grateful] for what he’s doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world for peace, for freedom, for democracy”.
Machado was nominated by a broad coalition of opposition parties as their candidate for the 2024 presidential election. However, she was subsequently banned from standing in the election by the Venezuelan government’s highest court. Despite going into hiding to avoid retribution from the government, she maintains a high profile as a pro-democracy campaigner from the opposition to the Venezuelan government.
However, Machado has been criticised on several fronts. In 2018, Machado invited foreign intervention in Venezuela, writing to the leaders of Argentina and Israel asking them to “apply their strength” to “dismantle” the regime. Machado has long held ties to and support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the Israeli government, Machado spoke to Netanyahu on the phone after winning the prize, telling him she “greatly appreciates his decisions and decisive actions in the war, and Israel’s achievements”. Machado previously said a Venezuelan government she led would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in order to signal support to Israel over Palestine.
Finally, Machado is an ally of right wing politicians like former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump. She dedicated her award to Trump, saying he deserved it, and that “the Venezuelan people are [grateful] for what he’s doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world for peace, for freedom, for democracy”.
