Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Nobel Peace Prize
• Norwegian Nobel Committee
• Freedom of Expression (PEN)
• Democracy in Retreat
• Authoritarian Regimes
• Civilian Courage
• Ballots over Bullets
• Election Rigging
• Humanitarian Crisis
• Peaceful Resistance
• Alfred Nobel's Will
• Venezuelan Opposition
• Sumate (organization)
• Judicial Independence
• Human Rights
• Popular Representation

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Behind the Scenes of the Nobel Peace Prize Deliberations

The BBC closely followed the announcement of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner in Oslo. Mark Loen, a BBC colleague, provided an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the process. For the first time in its 125-year history (since 1901), the Norwegian Nobel Committee allowed media into the room where deliberations take place, specifically at the start of the meeting. However, they were asked to leave when talks and decision-making began, maintaining the committee's historical secrecy regarding their meeting times due to security threats. The room itself is adorned with photos of all past winners dating back to 1901.

This year was described as "unprecedented" due to former US President Donald Trump's highly public campaign to win the award. Trump has consistently cited his achievements in public speeches and press conferences, believing they qualify him. He was among the 338 nominees this year, though nomination papers, which closed in January, will not be made public for 50 years.

The announcement was made by Jurg Vataf Friedes, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and also the head of the Norwegian branch of PEN, an association promoting freedom of expression.

Announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

Key Reasons for the Award:

• Champion of Peace and Democracy: Machado was recognized as a "brave and committed champion of peace" who "keeps the flame of democracy burning amidst a growing darkness."
• Civilian Courage: As the leader of democratic forces in Venezuela, she exemplifies "extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times."
• Unifying Opposition Figure: Machado played a crucial role in unifying a deeply divided political opposition in Venezuela, finding common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government. This commitment to defending popular rule principles despite disagreements is central to democracy.

Venezuela's Crisis and Machado's Efforts:

• Deterioration of Venezuela: The country has transformed from a relatively democratic and prosperous nation into a "brutal and authoritarian state" suffering a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. Most Venezuelans live in deep poverty, while a few at the top enrich themselves.
• State Repression: The state's violent machinery is directed against its own population, leading to nearly 8 million people leaving the country. The opposition faces systematic suppression through election rigging, legal prosecution, and imprisonment, making political work extremely dangerous.
• Machado's Activism:
  • Over 20 years ago, she founded Sumate, an organization dedicated to democratic development, advocating for free and fair elections, famously stating it was a "choice of ballots over bullets."
  • She has consistently championed judicial independence, human rights, and popular representation.
  • In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Machado was the opposition's presidential candidate but was blocked by the regime. She then backed Edmundo Gonzalez Urutya, a representative of a different party.
  • Hundreds of thousands of volunteers were mobilized across political divides and trained as election observers to ensure transparency. Despite risks of harassment, arrest, and torture, citizens monitored polling stations, documenting final tallies to prevent the regime from destroying ballots or falsifying outcomes.
  • The collective opposition's efforts were described as innovative, brave, peaceful, and democratic. International support followed when leaders publicized vote counts showing a clear opposition victory, which the regime refused to accept, clinging to power.

Global Context of Democracy:

• The committee highlighted a global trend where "democracy is in retreat," with more authoritarian regimes challenging norms and resorting to violence. Venezuela's situation is not unique, reflecting global trends of abused rule of law, silenced free media, imprisoned critics, and societies pushed towards authoritarianism and militarization.
• In 2024, while more elections were held than ever, fewer were free and fair.

Machado's Resilience and Meeting Nobel's Criteria:

• Machado has been forced to live in hiding due to serious threats but has remained in Venezuela, inspiring millions.
• The committee emphasized the importance of recognizing courageous defenders of freedom who resist authoritarianism, reminding that freedom must be defended with words, courage, and determination.
• Maria Corina Machado meets all three criteria stated in Alfred Nobel's will for the Peace Prize:
  1. She has brought her country's opposition together.
  2. She has never wavered in resisting the militarization of Venezuelan society.
  3. She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy.
• Her actions demonstrate that "the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace," embodying hope for a future where citizens' fundamental rights are protected, voices heard, and people live in peace.

Post-Announcement Q&A and Analysis

1. Highlighting Venezuela's Democratic Development: The committee hopes media will help highlight Venezuela's humanitarian crisis and the opposition's "immense and impressive work" to maintain hope for a future of freedom.

2. Donald Trump's Campaign for the Prize: The committee chairman stated that they have witnessed "any type of campaign media attention" throughout the prize's long history and receive "thousands and thousands of letters" annually. Decisions are based solely on Alfred Nobel's will and the candidates' work, emphasizing the committee's commitment to "courage and integrity."

3. The Prize as a Warning to the World: The committee affirmed that the prize is indeed a warning. In a world with fewer democracies and more authoritarian regimes, global safety decreases. They believe "democracy is a precondition for peace," and thus, the message is to support democratic forces for peace.

4. Role of Women in Protecting Democracy: Referencing Machado and the 2023 Iranian activist laureate, the committee reiterated that the prize's history honors "brave women and men" who stand against repression. Machado's unifying leadership and the 2024 election efforts were deemed "incredible" and a source of hope.

5. Safety and Security Considerations for Machado: The committee acknowledged this as one of the "absolutely most difficult dilemmas" they face annually, especially for candidates in hiding due to serious threats. They consider that the prize will "support her cause and not limit it."

6. Machado's Presence in Oslo in December: It is "too early to say" if Machado will attend the ceremony in Oslo due to the serious security situation, which needs to be handled first, though they always hope the laureate can be present.

Expert Analysis by Mark Loen

Mark Loen provided further analysis, describing Maria Corina Machado as "Venezuela's iron lady." She has long been an opposition leader, banned from leaving the country and from standing in the 2024 election by the Nicolás Maduro regime, which the Nobel Committee believes "completely stole" the election. An alternative candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, stood from exile. Machado has faced death threats and was reportedly kidnapped earlier in the year when briefly emerging from hiding for a protest. Loen underscored her extreme bravery and consistent choice of "ballots over bullets," noting that Venezuelans guarded polling stations despite threats of harassment and torture.

Loen interpreted the committee's choice as a "very delicate and smart move" given the "unprecedented pressure from Donald Trump." While the committee would never disclose such motivations, Loen suggested that by awarding the prize to Machado, a figure representing an opposition supported by the Trump administration (which has called Maduro "illegitimate" and taken actions against Venezuelan vessels), the committee avoided giving the prize to Trump while also not incurring the "wrath of the Trump administration or retaliation."

Furthermore, Loen highlighted that Jurg Vadner Fredes's announcement speech extensively discussed not only Machado's work but also the broader "retreat of democracy around the world," with "more and more authoritarian regimes challenging norms and resorting to violence." Loen suggested this broader statement could be a "barbed statement" about the situation in the United States, noting Fredes has previously spoken out against Donald Trump, implying "subtle implications" in his remarks.