Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made a public appearance in Oslo, Norway, on Wednesday, marking her first public engagement in several months. Her arrival in the Norwegian capital followed an period of uncertainty regarding her attendance at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony earlier that day, where her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on her behalf. Machado's travel to Oslo occurred despite reported travel restrictions from Venezuela, where she had been in an undisclosed location since the 2024 presidential election.
Nobel Peace Prize and Political Context
María Corina Machado, a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Institute cited "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" in Venezuela as the basis for the recognition.
In Venezuela, Machado was prohibited from participating in the 2024 presidential election. Following this election, opposition groups released vote counts suggesting a victory for their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez. This claim was disputed by President Nicolás Maduro, who declared triumph. Several international nations, including the United States, have recognized Gonzalez as the president-elect. The July 2024 elections were subject to dispute by the Venezuelan opposition and elements of the international community, leading to protests across the country. Approximately 2,000 individuals, including members of Machado's opposition coalition, were arrested in the period following these protests.
Venezuelan authorities had stated that if Ms. Machado were to depart the country, she would be classified as a "fugitive." Last month, Venezuela's Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, informed AFP that Machado faces accusations of "acts of conspiracy, incitement of hatred, terrorism," and would be considered a fugitive if outside Venezuela while subject to numerous criminal investigations. Machado had previously conveyed to her supporters her intention to return to Venezuela after receiving the award.
Pre-Ceremony Uncertainty and Arrival Confirmation
Prior to the ceremony, the Nobel Institute had communicated a lack of definitive information regarding Machado's arrival schedule. A press conference scheduled for Tuesday with Ms. Machado was canceled. The Institute acknowledged Machado's previous comments on the challenges of traveling to Oslo, stating, "We therefore cannot at this point provide any further information about when and how she will arrive for the Nobel peace prize ceremony."
Machado had been in an undisclosed location since Venezuela's 2024 election, with her last known public appearance occurring on January 9 at a protest in Caracas opposing the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. During her time in hiding, she continued to provide interviews and share videos on social media. Her mother and two of her children were already in Oslo, anticipating her arrival after more than a year of separation.
On Wednesday, the Nobel Institute later confirmed Machado was "safe" and en route to Oslo. Machado herself communicated in an audio recording shared by the Nobel Institute, stating, "I will be in Oslo, I am on my way." Kristian Berg Harpviken, director of the Nobel Institute, subsequently stated that Ms. Machado was anticipated to arrive "sometime between this evening and tomorrow morning," placing her arrival after the 12:00 GMT ceremony on Wednesday. The specifics of her departure from her reported hiding location and her means of travel to Europe were not publicly disclosed.
Ceremony and Public Appearance
At the scheduled ceremony on Wednesday, Ana Corina Sosa, Machado's daughter, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her mother's behalf and delivered a speech prepared by Machado.
Later on Wednesday, María Corina Machado appeared publicly in Oslo. She was observed on a balcony acknowledging individuals gathered below, and subsequently descended to greet them in person. Outside the Grand Hotel, Machado interacted with supporters positioned behind metal barriers. She was observed climbing over the barriers to join the group, who were heard calling her name in Spanish and recording the event on mobile devices. This event marked her first public appearance since January.