The daughter of 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado said her mother is determined to secure freedom in Venezuela as she accepted her mother's award.
Ana Corina Sosa Machado collected the gold medal and diploma, and received a standing ovation after the Venezuelan opposition leader – who has been forced to live in hiding for much of the year – was unable to reach Oslo in time for the ceremony.
It followed a chaotic 24 hours in which a press conference before the ceremony was cancelled without explanation and amid conflicting reports about whether Ms Machado would be able to attend in person.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, the head of the Nobel Institute, said that security threats meant that Ms Machado’s life would be in danger on her journey to Oslo.
“She simply lives with a death threat from the regime. It extends beyond Venezuela’s borders, from the regime and the regime’s friends around the world,” Mr Harpviken told Norway’s national broadcaster, NRK.
Accepting the award, Ms Machado’s daughter read a speech written by her mother.
“We attain freedom only when we refuse to turn our backs on ourselves, when we confront the truth directly, no matter how painful, when love for what truly matters in life gives us the strength to persevere and to prevail,” she said.
“Venezuela will breathe again,” she continued. “We will open prison doors and watch thousands who were unjustly detained step into the warm sun, embraced at last by those who never stopped fighting for them.
“We will see grandmothers settle children on their laps to tell them stories not of distant forefathers, but of their own parents’ courage.”
In the speech, she accused the Venezuelan government of “state terrorism deployed to bury the will of the people”.
The 58-year-old politician and former engineer has been in hiding since a contentious election that saw socialist leader and president Nicolas Maduro declared the winner. Ms Machado was banned from public office shortly after the win.
Venezuela’s attorney general had warned that the leader would be considered a “fugitive” if she were to travel to Oslo to collect the prize.
“Maria Corina Machado has herself stated in interviews how challenging the journey to Oslo, Norway will be,” the institute explained.
The award comes amid a backdrop of escalating tensions between Venezuela and the US, with Mr Trump reportedly issuing Mr Maduro an ultimatum to step down immediately in exchange for safe passage out of the country.
The Trump administration has accused Mr Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking from his country, which he denies.
The Venezuelan leader has in turn accused the US president of trying to oust him by piling on pressure with a show of force on his border. Military attacks on boats have been criticised as “extrajudicial killings” by some legal experts.
Ms Machado previously dedicated her Nobel win to Mr Trump, who has made clear his hopes to win the prize himself. She thanked him for his “decisive support” in her country’s struggle for democracy.
The opposition leader was celebrated as someone “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness” by the Nobel committee in an explanation of its choice.
Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, added: “In the past year, Ms Machado has been forced to live in hiding.
“Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”
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