Who is María Corina Machado and why she won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Like every year, the Nobel Foundation has announced the coveted Peace Prize for 2025. The winner is María Corina Machado, a figure who has resonated with everyone, despite recent rumors that she was in favor of the US president. But in a year in which the global debate on democracy and authoritarianism has once again become central to international politics, the choice to honor a symbolic and influential activist who resisted a context of repression sent a strong message. The committee cited the prize by emphasizing "her tireless work in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people" and "her fight for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

Behind this recognition lies a story of courage, difficult choices, and also great international visibility. María Corina Machado is not a "secondary woman": she has become an emblem of hope, a spokesperson for those who fight in extreme conditions to reclaim their freedom. But what did she actually do to win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize? Why did the Foundation choose her?

Who is María Corina Machado? A biography of the politician and activist

Let’s start from the beginning to create a true profile. María Corina Machado Parisca was born on October 7, 1967, in Caracas, Venezuela. She comes from an entrepreneurial background: her father was involved in the Venezuelan steel industry, and precisely because of this, her family provided her with a solid education. Machado graduated with a degree in industrial engineering and over the years deepened her knowledge of management and administration—an education that would later serve her not only in political roles but also in communicating concrete visions of reform.

In the 2000s, she emerged as one of the most active voices in civil society: she co-founded the organization Súmate, dedicated to monitoring electoral processes and promoting transparency. The project launched her critical career toward the government and became a point of reference for the opposition. At the same time, she founded the Vente Venezuela political movement, which positioned itself as a liberal alternative within the anti-Chavismo front.

Her parliamentary career began in 2010, when she was elected to the National Assembly for the Miranda state with a historic turnout. She remained in office until 2014, when she was stripped of her seat following a judicial decision that many viewed as merely a political maneuver against her.

As the years passed, Machado assumed an increasingly central role in the Venezuelan opposition. In 2023, she won the anti-regime alliance primaries by a large margin, gaining support and visibility. However, the Council of State and the Venezuelan Supreme Court formally barred her from running for office due to administrative charges, barring her from participating in the 2024 elections.

Despite this, Machado did not flee: she remained in Venezuela, moving underground to avoid arrest, threats, and security actions. She has now been living out of the public eye for months, directing her political campaign from an undisclosed location. So much so that she has rarely appeared at public demonstrations: in January 2025, she was even arrested for a few hours before being released and returned to hiding. Since then, she has completely disappeared.

In short, Machado is the profile of a woman who has pursued her own path without compromise: a polarizing personality, defined by many as Venezuela’s "Iron Lady"—not for ideological aggression, but for her steadfastness in a context of constant repression.

Why did she win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize?

In recent days, there has been much talk about Trump and his possible candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, given his role in the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. But, in some ways, María Corina Machado’s election is also tied to the US, especially in terms of timing, given that Trump himself recently announced a borderless fight against the major drug cartels.

As mentioned, the Norwegian committee explained that María Corina Machado is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize:

"for her tireless work in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for her struggle for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

The citation recalls a crucial concept: peace is not merely the absence of war, but the conditions in which to freely express oneself, vote, and participate.

The very fact that Machado chose to remain in her homeland, even when her life was threatened, had great symbolic weight. Resilience is mentioned among her virtues: she did not seek refuge abroad; on the contrary, she continued to lead the opposition, resisting. It is a testament to civil courage that, at a time of democratic deterioration in Latin America, has attracted worldwide attention.

At the same time, the international context has made his candidacy powerful in itself: in a year marked by global crises, escalating conflicts, and the specter of a new global Cold War, awarding the Nobel Prize to a figure fighting internally against an authoritarian regime becomes a significant political message.

But this award also represents another story: Machado beats Trump. Yes, because the US president has strongly favored this nomination, waging a public campaign and even boasting of diplomatic interventions in several conflicts, not least the ceasefire in Gaza. However, the committee rejected the pressure: during the press conference, Jørgen Watne Frydnes stated that the decision was made with "courage and integrity," implying that he rejected any interference.

The prize, therefore, has chosen to recognize not a "traditional" peace mediator, but someone who represents democratic resistance in a country that needs it. Maria Machado is a concrete symbol of active resistance.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Chi è María Corina Machado e perché ha vinto il Nobel per la pace