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The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, announced this Friday that the Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize 2025, will receive the Golden Key of the City Hall of Madrid next Friday April 17 at 6:00 PM at the Casa de la Villa, the traditional headquarters of the Madrid city council.
Almeida justified the distinction by stating that Machado is a woman committed to human rights, democracy, and has put her life and physical integrity at risk.
The mayor added that it's hard to imagine the keys being in better hands, referring to the career of the Venezuelan opposition leader.
Almeida also warned that anyone who disagrees with this decision will need to explain themselves well, referring to the potential criticism that the recognition might receive from opposing political sectors.
Machado was the first Venezuelan to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor awarded to her in 2025 in recognition of her fight for democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
It is not the first time that the Golden Key of Madrid has generated controversy. In 2022, the city council revoked the key from Vladimir Putin following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a decision that set a precedent regarding the symbolic use of this distinction.
Machado's visit to Spain includes a packed political agenda. Among other meetings, the opposition leader will meet with Alberto Núñez Feijóo, president of the Popular Party, as well as with leaders from Vox.
Her stay in the Spanish capital will also coincide with a mass gathering of Venezuelans in Madrid, scheduled for April 18, where a significant participation from the Venezuelan diaspora residing in Spain is expected.
The international activity of Machado has been intense in recent months. Recently, the opposition leader met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of diplomatic efforts to seek a resolution to the Venezuelan political crisis, all following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026.
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