María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her ten-year quest to restore democratic freedoms in Venezuela. Her Norwegian Nobel Committee announced she was a “key, unifying figure” in opposition that had long been divided under pressure from President Nicolás Maduro’s government, and that her courage had “kept the flame of democracy burning” despite danger, the Nobel committee stated.
The committee also framed the award against a broader global backdrop of shrinking civic space and elections that are “less free and fair,” as summarized by The Week.
Criticism was close on its heels. Civil rights groups and politicians stated the choice is against the wish of Alfred Nobel, citing Machado’s backing of Israel’s ruling Likud party and open support of Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called the choice an outrage and Norwegian parliamentarian Bjørnar Moxnes questioned its congruence with the prize’s aim, Anadolu Agency reports
Machado’s history with Israel is well-documented. In 2020, her political party, Vente Venezuela, signed a cooperation agreement with Likud to address political and security issues, The Week reports.
A 2019 X post placed her fight alongside that of Israel—”The struggle of Venezuela is the struggle of Israel”—something evident in her May 17, 2019 post: María Corina Machado on X.
In response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, she rallied behind Israel and condemned terrorism “in whatever guise it presents itself,” Costa del Sol FM reported.
Some media brought back a 2018 letter in which Machado invited foreign leaders to help “dismanite” Venezuela’s “criminal regime.” According to critics, it is evidence of supporting foreign interference; some say it was Venezuelan domestic crisis, rather than Israeli aggression, as detailed by The Week and reported by Anadolu Agency.
Supporters say the prize is well-deserved because it rewards someone who stayed in Venezuela despite threats and attempts to disqualify them in order to push for free elections. Critics say that her views on Israel and her ties to Likud make the reward less morally clear. The argument got even more heated as President Donald Trump praised Machado and she dedicated the prize to him. This made people even more interested in the committee’s judgment.
The Nobel Committee usually sticks to its choices. People who support Machado will probably point to Venezuela’s poor human rights record and lack of democracy as reasons for the choice. As the prize ceremonies go on, critics are likely to keep bringing up precedent and principle to the committee.
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