Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for promoting democratic rights and fighting dictatorship, receiving the award despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated statements that he deserved it.
Machado, a 58-year-old industrial engineer who lives in hiding, was blocked in 2024 by Venezuela’s courts from running for president and thus challenging President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.
“When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.
‘On behalf of the Norwegian Government, I would like to congratulate the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, Maria Corina Machado. In its announcement, the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated that Ms Machado is receiving the prize for her tireless work to promote democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
‘The Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasised that democracy is a precondition for lasting peace. This is an important award that highlights how important it is to fight for fundamental human rights at a time when democracy is under threat,’ said Støre.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects the Nobel Peace Prize laureates and gives grounds for its choice. The committee is independent of both the Storting (Norwegian parliament) and the Norwegian Government.
Media outlets have heavily publicized about Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
1. The “PDVSA-Crypto” or “PDVAL-Crypto” Plot (2023)
This is the most prominent and recent set of accusations.
· The Accusation: In March 2023, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused Machado of being involved in a complex corruption scheme. He alleged that a network of opposition figures, including Machado, was behind a plot to divert funds from state-owned oil company PDVSA. The scheme supposedly involved siphoning money from a food subsidy program (PDVAL) through the country’s cryptocurrency department.
· The Government’s Narrative: Saab claimed the plot was orchestrated from Washington and aimed to steal billions of dollars, which would then be used to finance a “coup d’état” and destabilize the government. He specifically named Machado as a “ringleader” of this conspiracy.
· Machado’s Response & Context: Machado vehemently denied the accusations, calling them a “crude and clumsy show” fabricated by the Maduro regime to disqualify her from the presidential election, where she was (and remains) the overwhelming favorite in polls. No credible evidence has been presented to an independent court to support these claims. Many international observers and analysts view this as a clear case of political lawfare.
2. The “Tascón List” and Political Discrimination
This accusation relates to her role during the government of interim President Juan Guaidó.
· The Accusation: The Maduro government and its supporters have accused Machado of being involved in creating a “new Tascón List.” The original Tascón List was used in the 2000s to discriminate against citizens who had signed petitions to recall former President Hugo Chávez. The new accusation alleges that Machado, as the “Special Commissioner” appointed by Guaidó, was part of a committee that compiled lists of public employees to be fired for political reasons.
· The Government’s Narrative: They frame this as a form of corruption and political persecution, arguing it mirrors the discriminatory practices they themselves have been accused of.
· Machado’s Response & Context: Machado and her supporters argue that her role was to lead a transparent process to audit and restructure the public administration under the interim government’s control, aiming to root out corruption and inefficiency, not to politically persecute individuals.
3. The “Million-Dollar Contracts” with Guaidó’s Government
This accusation is about the management of resources by the interim government.
· The Accusation: Government-aligned media has published reports claiming that companies linked to María Corina Machado received million-dollar contracts from Juan Guaidó’s interim government for “consulting services” related to the oil and financial sectors.
· The Government’s Narrative: This is presented as evidence of corruption and profiteering, suggesting opposition figures were enriching themselves from state resources they controlled.
· Machado’s Response & Context: Machado has denied any personal or family business benefited from such contracts. She and her team state that these are baseless smears and part of the regime’s strategy to tarnish the image of the opposition by creating a false equivalency between their actions and the well-documented, massive corruption within the Maduro administration.
Summary and Key Takeaways
· Source of Accusations: All these accusations originate from the Maduro government and its controlled institutions (Attorney General’s Office, Comptroller General, Supreme Court).
