The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and a prominent symbol of democratic resistance against the country’s increasingly authoritarian regime.

Machado, who has been forced into hiding and barred from holding public office, was recognized for her “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,” the committee said in a statement on Friday.

The announcement comes amid speculation about U.S. former President Donald Trump’s potential candidacy for the prize following his role in brokering a historic deal between Israel and Hamas.

Nobel Committee Chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes emphasized that the committee’s decision is based solely on the “work and the will of Alfred Nobel” and is made in a room “filled with both courage and integrity,” dismissing claims of outside influence.

Trump, who has received multiple nominations since returning to office, was reportedly endorsed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group representing victims of terror and hostage situations.

The group praised him for delivering “tangible results that have saved countless lives.” However, the committee’s deadline for nominations was January 31, making Trump eligible only for next year’s prize.

Machado’s recognition highlights the ongoing struggle for democracy in Venezuela and marks a significant international endorsement of her efforts to challenge authoritarianism.

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