Oslo: Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, arrived in Oslo early Thursday after secretly leaving Venezuela, arriving too late to attend the official ceremony.
Her arrival drew crowds outside the Grand Hotel, where supporters braved the cold to cheer, wave Venezuelan flags, and record the moment on their phones.
The 58-year-old reportedly departed Venezuela by boat on Tuesday, traveled to the Caribbean island of Curaçao, and continued on a private flight to Norway. The journey allowed her to bypass a decade-long travel ban and emerge after more than a year in hiding.
¡Oslo, aquí estoy! pic.twitter.com/tsixUerj0q
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) December 11, 2025
Machado appeared at dawn on the hotel balcony, smiling and greeting supporters. Many in the crowd were members of the Venezuelan diaspora who said they had feared for her safety amid increased crackdowns by President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Later, Machado came down to street level, crossed the barriers, and embraced people who had gathered to see her.
She spoke of being reunited with her children, who have lived abroad for nearly two years. The separation, she said, had been difficult after months in hiding. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the Nobel Prize on her behalf and delivered a speech prepared by Machado, emphasizing that democracies must remain vigilant to protect freedom.
In her message, Machado reflected on the erosion of Venezuela’s democratic institutions since the late President Hugo Chávez’s tenure, arguing that authoritarianism had taken root long before Maduro assumed power in 2013. She said the country’s experience is a warning of how quickly democracy can deteriorate when citizens and institutions fail to act.
This is the story of a people and their long march toward freedom.
What an honor to hear my Nobel Peace Prize 2025 acceptance speech in the voice of my daughter — and to know that very soon, I’ll be able to embrace her and my family again. pic.twitter.com/uyrUOjVQpj
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) December 10, 2025
The Nobel Committee recognized her absence during the ceremony by displaying a portrait of Machado at Oslo City Hall. Committee chair Joergen Watne Frydnes highlighted the challenges faced by activists under oppressive regimes and praised Machado’s courage.
Machado told reporters that she intends to return to Venezuela despite the risks. She had been barred from participating in the 2024 presidential election, even after winning the opposition primary, and went into hiding following an escalation of arrests targeting opposition figures. Opposition groups maintain that their candidate won the election, while official results declared Maduro the victor.
Machado’s previous dedication of the Nobel Prize to US President Donald Trump has drawn international attention. She has worked with advisers aligned with Trump who consider Maduro’s government a security threat.
