Oslo/Caracas: Venezuelan democracy activist Maria Corina Machado has sparked controversy after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025. While the Nobel Committee hailed her as a champion of democracy, critics have condemned her past support for Israel and calls for foreign intervention in Venezuela.
Why Machado received the Nobel
The Nobel Prize Committee praised Machado for her relentless fight against dictatorship in Venezuela, calling her a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition” that was once divided. Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the committee chair, highlighted her courage despite living under serious threats and being forced into hiding over the past year.
“The tools of democracy are also the tools of peace. Machado embodies the hope of a future where citizens’ rights are protected and voices are heard,” Frydnes said.
Machado dedicated her Nobel Prize to former US President Donald Trump, who expressed happiness over the recognition.
Criticism over Israel and Gaza
The announcement immediately drew criticism, particularly from the White House, for “placing politics over peace.” International observers and activists have flagged Machado’s past statements and actions supporting Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Critics cited posts in which Machado equated Venezuela’s struggle to Israel’s and called Israel a “genuine ally of freedom.” She had also pledged to move Venezuela’s embassy to Jerusalem if elected. Norwegian lawmaker Bjornar Moxnes highlighted her 2020 cooperation agreement with Likud, describing it as incompatible with the Nobel Peace Prize’s purpose.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called the decision “unconscionable” and urged the Nobel Committee to reconsider, arguing that the award undermines its reputation.
Controversy over calls for foreign intervention
Machado is also facing backlash for previously requesting foreign support to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In 2018, she wrote to the Presidents of Argentina and Israel, seeking assistance in dismantling the Venezuelan government, which she linked to drug trafficking and terrorism.
Critics argue these actions contradict the principles of peace and non-intervention that the Nobel Prize represents.
Global reactions
While Machado’s supporters praise her as a symbol of civilian courage and pro-democracy efforts in Venezuela, detractors have called for greater scrutiny over her political alliances and past statements. The debate highlights the complexity of awarding global honours in politically charged contexts.