Oslo, Norway – December 8, 2025: Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize this week, with family members and international heads of state arriving in Oslo for the ceremony. Machado, 58, has lived in hiding in Venezuela since August 2024 but has confirmed she will attend the ceremony at Oslo City Hall on Wednesday.

A High-Stakes Visit

Machado’s appearance in Norway is surrounded by secrecy and heavy security. Hours before the official program began, it remained unclear whether she had arrived. Her mother, Corina Parisca de Machado, expressed hope that her daughter would accept the award in person:

“Every day I pray… that we may have Maria Corina tomorrow. And if we don’t, it is because that is God’s will.”

Venezuelan authorities, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, have dismissed the Nobel as an “auction” and announced a government rally on the day of the ceremony. Machado faces multiple criminal investigations at home, and Venezuela’s Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, stated she would be considered a “fugitive” if she leaves the country.

Recognition for Democracy Efforts

Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on October 10 for her efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela, challenging President Nicolas Maduro, who has ruled since 2013. She has accused Maduro of stealing the July 2024 presidential election, a claim supported by much of the international community.

Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute, confirmed Machado will personally accept her prize. Several of her family members, including her sister and daughter, are in Oslo, alongside Latin American leaders such as Argentine President Javier Milei, an ally of Machado and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Security and Global Context

Oslo has heightened security ahead of the event, with police presence reported around the Grand Hotel, the traditional lodging for Nobel laureates. Machado’s award coincides with a period of increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and reported strikes on drug smuggling operations in the region.

Machado’s Nobel highlights international recognition of her struggle for democracy in Venezuela, despite personal risks and ongoing legal challenges at home.