Machado condemns Venezuelan dictator in Nobel peace prize speech read by daughter

Venezuela’s most prominent opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, vowed to continue her struggle to free the country from years of “obscene corruption”, “brutal dictatorship” and “despair” as she was awarded the Nobel peace prize at a ceremony in Norway’s capital, Oslo.

- Camille Rodriguez Montilla Oslo Tom Phillips Rio de Janeiro

The 58-year-old conservative has lived in hiding in Venezuela since its authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, was accused of stealing the 2024 presidential election from her political movement. Despite fevered speculation that she would make a dramatic appearance at yesterday’s event, having somehow slipped out of Venezuela, Machado was not present, although she was expected to arrive in Oslo in the coming hours.

In a lecture delivered by her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, the former congresswoman and pro-democracy campaigner pledged to continue leading Venezuela on its “long march to freedom”.

“Venezuela will breathe again,” said Machado, who has lived underground since Maduro launched a wave of repression after refusing to accept he had lost last year’s vote, despite compelling proof.

“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 hug again. Fall in love again. Hear our streets fill with laughter and music,’ added Machado, who some call Venezuela’s Iron Lady.

Opening yesterday’s ceremony, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes,

said Machado was “safe” and “will be here with us in Oslo” after “a journey in a situation of extreme danger”, although not in time for the event.