By: The Trek News Desk
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her “tireless efforts to safeguard democratic rights and her unwavering struggle for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced on Friday.
At a press conference in Oslo, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said that Machado has spent the past year living in hiding due to threats to her life, yet she has refused to leave Venezuela. “Her courage has inspired millions. She has united the opposition and consistently resisted the militarization of Venezuelan society,” the committee stated.
A Symbol of Peaceful Democratic Change
Despite enduring political persecution, intimidation, and disqualification, Machado has remained steadfast in her commitment to non-violent democratic reform. Her leadership has become a beacon of hope for Venezuelans seeking freedom and civil rights under an increasingly repressive regime.
Highlights of Nobel Week 2025
The 2025 Nobel Prize announcements began on October 6 with the prize in Physiology or Medicine, followed by Physics on October 7, Chemistry on October 8, and Literature on October 9. The Economics Prize will be announced on October 13.
Each laureate will receive 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately USD 990,000) and a gold medal during the official award ceremony on December 10, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
Selection and Process Behind the Prize
According to the Norwegian Nobel Institute, 338 nominations were received for the 2025 Peace Prize, including 244 individuals and 94 organizations. The selection process begins in January and concludes around August or September, with the final decision reached either by consensus or majority vote.
Committee Chair Frydnes noted, “Every year, many leaders claim they deserve the prize, but our focus remains firmly on the principles of Alfred Nobel’s will, promoting peace, disarmament, and international cooperation.”
The Spirit of Alfred Nobel’s Legacy
The Nobel Prizes were established in 1895 through the will of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel, who directed that his fortune be used to honour those contributing to humanity in the fields of Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, and Peace.
Past Winner and Global Context
Last year, the Peace Prize went to the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki known as Hibakusha, for their lifelong advocacy of nuclear disarmament and peace.
Politics and the Prize
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his desire to join the ranks of past presidential laureates such as Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Woodrow Wilson, and Theodore Roosevelt. However, experts note that Trump’s policies, including the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord, contradicted the spirit of the Nobel’s vision.
Nina Graeger, Director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, emphasized, “Nobel’s will focus on three principles fostering peace agreements, promoting disarmament, and strengthening international cooperation.”
Source: News Agencies
