OSLO – Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has been in hiding for months, will personally travel to Oslo on Wednesday to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee confirmed her attendance, despite the political risks surrounding her departure from Venezuela.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, chair of the Nobel Committee, said he had spoken directly with Machado and confirmed her plans to attend the ceremony. He declined to provide further details. Venezuelan authorities reportedly regard Machado as a “fugitive” should she leave the country to accept the award.
Machado went into hiding following the highly contested re-election of President Nicolás Maduro in July 2024. Opposition groups and international observers have described the vote as fraudulent. Since protests erupted in the aftermath of the election, at least 2,400 people have reportedly been arrested, according to human rights organizations.
Earlier today, Machado once again called on Venezuelans to take to the streets in protest against the Maduro government.
Machado has repeatedly stated that she does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state, a position also expressed by U.S. President Donald Trump. She has accused Maduro of being linked to drug trafficking rather than governing lawfully. According to sources close to the opposition leader, Machado has dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump.
The Nobel Committee has not commented on the political implications of Machado’s appearance in Oslo, but her presence is expected to draw significant international attention amid ongoing tensions in Venezuela.