Nobel Peace Prize: Who is María Machado?

Who is Machado, why will she receive the peace prize, and why is she so controversial?

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has again placed Venezuela’s chaotic political landscape at the center of global attention.

Supporters applaud María Corina Machado’s tireless struggle for democracy. Critics point to her controversial international connections and her openness to forms of external pressure on the Maduro government, arguing that these practices challenge traditional interpretations of peace work.

Venezuelans themselves remain divided over what kinds of support, strategies, and alliances are legitimate in the struggle for change.

We have gathered Latin America experts to unpack the controversies surrounding this year’s Peace Prize, explore what the award signals for peace and democracy, and discuss what this means for Venezuela’s future.

Benedicte Bull
University of Oslo

Ramón Dønvold Barreto-Pirela
The Norwegian Venezuelan Justice Alliance

Leiv Marsteintredet
University of Bergen

Eirik Holmøyvik
University of Bergen