María Corina Machado celebrates the Nobel Peace Prize: "Venezuela is on the brink of its liberation."

The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado described the Nobel Peace Prize received this Friday as an “injection of energy,” which she associates with the "heroic struggle" of the Venezuelan people against a “criminal regime.”

In an interview granted to the newspaper El Mundo, he stated that “Venezuela is on the brink of freedom” and that international support “sends an unequivocal signal” regarding the nature of Nicolás Maduro's government and the urgency of international action to support the democratic transition.

Machado stated that Latin America and Europe “are with us” and emphasized the support from the Spanish people, as well as from powerful governments that, she said, today align themselves with the Venezuelan cause.

“I have no doubt that the freedom of Venezuela is very close,” she noted while interpreting the recognition as a global message that reinforces the value of Venezuelan civil society.

The leader stated that external pressure must cut off the sources of funding for the regime —drug trafficking, “blood gold,” arms and human trafficking, and the black market for oil— and reiterated that “the United States has decided to take the right stance” by treating the issue as a matter of hemispheric security.

He dedicated the recognition "to the Venezuelans" and to former President Donald Trump, whom he credited with leadership in the international effort against the structure that, he said, "must have the law and order applied" to dismantle.

About the ruling dome, Machado was categorical: “Nicolás Maduro is the head of the Cartel of the Suns”, an organization that —she asserted— “has taken control of the State and all the institutions.”

In its narrative, Venezuela experiences a criminal takeover of ports, airports, the financial system, and logistical routes, while "a country with pensions of less than a dollar a month" suffers from hunger and inadequate services.

Regarding the exit strategy, it was stated that a negotiated transition requires guarantees whose scope will depend on the terms and actors of the process. However, it was warned that if the regime opposes it, the opposition "will pursue an orderly transition, even without negotiation."

In his opinion, the internal wear of Chavismo and the distrust in the Armed Forces explain maneuvers such as the attempt to arm civilian militias, which he describes as a "total failure."

Machado also highlighted the social cohesion achieved: “90% of the country, including military and police, want the same thing,” he said, while urging to focus on an institutional reconstruction from scratch: an inclusive, transparent, and strong state capable of sustaining, in his words, the “Latin American miracle” that Venezuela aspires to lead.

He also expressed support for political prisoners and their families, whom he called “heroes” for their strength in the face of repression.

Machado bets that the combination of international pressure and internal mobilization will accelerate a political solution. In the meantime, she insists that "freedom is very close" and is focused on consolidating teams and plans to manage the transition.

This Friday, the Venezuelan opposition leader was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her "tireless efforts in promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and for her struggle to achieve a fair and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

María Corina Machado received the official notification that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize just a few minutes before the information was made public. Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news with her directly via telephone.

The emotional moment was captured on video. María Corina's reaction was one of complete surprise.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado