Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, made a dramatic public return after nearly a year in hiding, arriving in Oslo just hours after her daughter accepted the award on her behalf. Machado, who has been under a travel ban imposed by Nicolás Maduro’s government since 2014, had intended to attend the ceremony in person, but severe weather disrupted her travel plans, forcing her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, to receive the prize in her place.
During the ceremony in Oslo, Sosa delivered her mother’s speech, telling attendees that Venezuela had shown the world that the fight for freedom requires both courage and persistence. Machado, awarded for her efforts to push for a democratic transition in Venezuela, has long been one of the most prominent voices challenging what critics describe as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Maduro.
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, acknowledged that Machado had made “every effort” to be present despite facing extreme risks. He announced that although she could not attend the ceremony itself, the Committee was “profoundly happy” to confirm she had arrived safely in Oslo — news that drew strong applause from attendees.
Machado’s defiant journey, undertaken despite the Venezuelan government’s warning that she would be considered a fugitive if she travelled, underscored the significance of the award for both her and her supporters. In an audio message released by the Nobel Committee, she said that many people had risked their lives to help her reach Norway, calling it evidence of what the recognition meant for Venezuelans. She added that the prize belonged not just to her but to her entire country.
Her daughter, in her remarks, said Machado remained unwavering in her goal of restoring democracy and would “never give up” on the dream of a free Venezuela. She expressed confidence that her mother would soon return home, saying, “She wants to live in a free Venezuela… and she will be back very soon.”
Machado herself, in her recorded message, spoke of her desire to reunite with her family and her people after two years of separation. She said she hoped she would soon be able to embrace her children, relatives, and all Venezuelans and Norwegians who have supported their struggle.
The ceremony was also notable for its strong regional presence. Leaders from across Latin America — including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, Panama’s José Raúl Mulino, and Paraguay’s Santiago Peña — attended the event, signalling significant international solidarity for Machado’s pro-democracy movement.
Frydnes described Venezuela as “a brutal authoritarian state” and praised Machado as one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in the region’s recent history. Machado had won the opposition primary in 2023 but was barred from competing in the 2024 presidential race, forcing the opposition to field Edmundo González as a substitute candidate.
The run-up to the July 28, 2024 election was marked by widespread repression — including arrests, disqualifications, and intimidation of opposition members. After Maduro was declared the winner by a council dominated by his allies, protests erupted across the country, further highlighting the political crisis that Machado has long sought to address through democratic means.
