Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize Winner María Corina Machado Safe, Will Miss Oslo Ceremony

María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader and this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is safe and en route to Oslo but will not attend the awards ceremony, the Nobel Institute confirmed. Her daughter will accept the prize on her behalf.

Machado was recognised for “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy” in Venezuela, where she has been living in hiding since the disputed presidential election in July 2024.

In an audio message shared by the Nobel Institute, Machado reassured supporters: “I will be in Oslo, I am on my way.” However, Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute, said she is expected to arrive between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning—too late for the scheduled 12:00 GMT ceremony. Ana Corina Sosa, Machado’s daughter, will deliver the speech her mother prepared.

Machado’s disappearance after the July 2024 elections sparked widespread concern. She had last been seen in public on 9 January 2025 at a rally opposing Nicolás Maduro’s third term. Following the elections, a government crackdown led to around 2,000 arrests, including members of Machado’s opposition coalition.

Despite her absence, Machado continued to engage with supporters via social media, encouraging them not to give up on democratic reforms. Her Nobel Prize win has galvanized the opposition movement and heightened international attention on Venezuela’s political crisis.

The exact details of Machado’s travel from hiding to Europe remain undisclosed, with authorities maintaining strict secrecy to ensure her safety.