Venezuelan opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado made a public appearance in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday, marking her first public presence in 11 months. She emerged from a hotel balcony and waved to a crowd of supporters. Her appearance followed the acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize by her daughter on her behalf hours earlier. Machado was recognized for her challenge to the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro.
Outside the hotel, supporters chanted and sang Venezuela's national anthem. Machado was accompanied by family members and aides. She spoke to the crowd, stating, "I want you all back in Venezuela."
Background on Machado's Arrival
Machado had been out of public view since January 9, when she was briefly detained following a protest in Caracas, Venezuela's capital. She had been anticipated at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo on Wednesday.
In an audio recording released by the Nobel website, Machado stated she would not be able to arrive in time for the ceremony, acknowledging that many individuals had assisted her travel to Oslo. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the prize on her mother's behalf.
During the acceptance speech, Sosa conveyed her mother's aspiration: "She wants to live in a free Venezuela, and she will never give up on that purpose." Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, commented on Machado's efforts to attend, describing her journey as occurring "in a situation of extreme danger."
Machado later commented on the recognition, stating, "I am very grateful to them, and this is a measure of what this recognition means to the Venezuelan people." Flight tracking data indicated that the plane she arrived on traveled to Oslo from Bangor, Maine. Machado expressed her anticipation of reuniting with family and supporters upon her arrival.
International Attendance and Political Context
Several Latin American heads of state attended the ceremony, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.
Machado, 58, was announced as the Nobel Peace Prize recipient on October 10 for her work towards a democratic transition in Venezuela. Watne Frydnes, in his remarks, characterized Venezuela as having "evolved into a brutal authoritarian state" and described Machado as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in recent Latin American history."
Machado had won an opposition primary election with the intent to contest last year's presidential election but was barred from running by the government. Retired diplomat Edmundo González subsequently ran in her place. The period leading up to the July 28, 2024 election included reports of disqualifications and arrests, intensifying after the National Electoral Council declared the incumbent the winner. González, who sought asylum in Spain, attended the ceremony.
U.N. human rights officials and independent rights groups have expressed concerns regarding the situation in Venezuela and have called for accountability for the crackdown on dissent.
Statements and Historical Context
In the lecture delivered by Sosa on behalf of her mother, it was stated, "More than anything, what we Venezuelans can offer the world is the lesson forged through this long and difficult journey — that to have democracy, we must be willing to fight for freedom." The speech did not specifically address current tensions between Washington and Caracas, though Machado has previously endorsed strategies by former U.S. President Donald Trump toward Venezuela.
Frydnes, addressing leaders such as Maduro, stated, "Your power is not permanent. Your violence will not prevail over people who rise and resist," adding, "Mr. Maduro, accept the election result and step down."
Five previous Nobel Peace Prize laureates have been unable to attend the award ceremony due to detention or imprisonment, including Narges Mohammadi (2023), Ales Bialiatski (2022), Liu Xiaobo (2010), Aung San Suu Kyi (1991), and Carl von Ossietzky (1935). Gustavo Tovar-Arroyo, a Venezuelan human rights activist in exile, commented on the situation, acknowledging the efforts made for Machado to attend while also noting that such circumstances are part of the struggle against a dictatorship.