María Corina Machado Emerges in Oslo After 11‑Month Absence, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

In a dramatic moment that captured global attention, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado stepped onto a hotel balcony in Oslo, Norway, for the first time in 11 months. The 58‑year‑old, who had been in hiding since January 9 after a brief detention in Caracas, emerged from the balcony to wave at an emotional crowd of supporters who had gathered to welcome the new Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

A Moment of Freedom

The crowd outside the hotel erupted in chants of “Freedom! Freedom!” and sang Venezuela’s national anthem as Machado appeared in jeans and a puffer jacket. She spent several minutes outside the hotel, joined by family members and close aides, and hugged many in the crowd amid chants of “President! President!” After the applause, Machado addressed the gathered supporters: “I want you all back in Venezuela,” she said, as people lifted their cellphones to take pictures.

The Nobel Journey

Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf at the ceremony in Oslo. In an audio recording posted on the Nobel website, Machado explained that she would not be able to arrive in time for the ceremony, but that “many people had risked their lives” to bring her to Oslo. Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, praised her efforts, saying, “María Corina Machado has done everything in her power to be able to attend the ceremony here today — a journey in a situation of extreme danger.”

Flight tracking data show that the plane Machado arrived on flew to Oslo from Bangor, Maine. In the recording, she added, “Since this is a prize for all Venezuelans, I believe that it will be received by them. And as soon as I arrive, I will be able to embrace all my family and my children that I’ve have not seen for two years and so many Venezuelans, Norwegians that I know that share our struggle and our fight.”

Solidarity from Latin America

The ceremony was attended by prominent Latin American leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. The 58‑year‑old’s win, announced on October 10, was seen as a recognition of her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in Venezuela.

Frydnes described Venezuela as having “evolved into a brutal authoritarian state” and called Machado “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in recent Latin American history.” He urged, “Mr. Maduro, accept the election result and step down.”

The 2024 Election Context

Machado had won an opposition primary election and intended to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in the 2024 presidential election. The government barred her from running, and retired diplomat Edmundo González took her place. The lead‑up to the July 28, 2024 election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests, and human rights violations. The National Electoral Council, dominated by Maduro loyalists, declared the incumbent the winner.

González, who sought asylum in Spain after a Venezuelan court issued a warrant for his arrest, attended the ceremony in Oslo.

Human Rights Concerns

U.N. human rights officials and many independent rights groups have expressed concerns about the situation in Venezuela, calling for Maduro to be held accountable for the crackdown on dissent. Sosa, delivering a lecture written by her mother, emphasized that “more than anything, what we Venezuelans can offer the world is the lesson forged through this long and difficult journey — that to have democracy, we must be willing to fight for freedom.”

The speech did not refer to the current tensions between Washington and Caracas, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues a military operation in the Caribbean that has killed Venezuelans in international waters and threatens to strike Venezuela. Machado has consistently endorsed Trump’s strategy toward Venezuela.

Past Nobel Laureates in Detention

The Nobel Peace Prize website notes that five past laureates were detained or imprisoned at the time of their award. The most recent were Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi in 2023 and Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski in 2022. Earlier winners include Liu Xiaobo of China in 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar in 1991, and Carl von Ossietzky of Germany in 1935.

Voices of Support

Gustavo Tovar‑Arroyo, a Venezuelan human rights activist who fled into exile in 2012, praised the supporters who ensured Machado’s presence in Oslo. “Machado’s supporters did the best for her to be here as she deserves. But we knew the risk,” he said. Tovar‑Arroyo added that they were disappointed she could not be in the ceremony, but that this is part of the fight against a dictatorship, a tyranny, or a criminal regime.

Key Takeaways

• María Corina Machado returned to public view in Oslo after 11 months, waving from a hotel balcony to a cheering crowd.
• Her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf; Machado could not attend the ceremony due to danger and travel constraints.
• Latin American leaders attended the Oslo ceremony, and the event highlighted the ongoing struggle for democracy in Venezuela.

The appearance of María Corina Machado in Oslo marks a symbolic moment for Venezuelan opposition supporters worldwide, underscoring the continued fight for freedom and democratic governance in her homeland.