María Corina Machado, a 58-year-old Venezuelan dissident, appeared in the streets of Oslo hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Machado was awarded the prize for leading an electoral challenge to Venezuela’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro.
After spending over a year in hiding in Venezuela, Machado left the country and traveled to Norway, where she greeted supporters and attended events surrounding the Nobel ceremony. However, she missed the ceremony itself due to her late arrival.
Machado’s decision to leave Venezuela has thrust her back into the global spotlight, escalating tensions between President Trump and Maduro. The US administration has accused Maduro of leading two drug cartels, while Machado has backed a hard-line approach against the government.
Analysts say that Maduro is unlikely to let Machado return unless he secures guarantees that keep his government intact. With hundreds of her supporters arrested, Machado’s challenge now lies in turning this moment into real political leverage.
Machado will be facing scrutiny for her past actions, including overstating the Venezuelan government’s role in drug trafficking and promoting unfounded claims about US elections. Her team has not disclosed how she left Venezuela, with reports suggesting she fled by boat or departed earlier with the government’s knowledge.
The appearance of a high-profile dissident like Machado highlights the complexities of Venezuela’s crisis and the challenges of pressuring Maduro into change.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/world/americas/maria-corina-machado-venezuela-nobel.html