Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado made a significant public appearance early Thursday morning in Norway, marking her first sighting in 11 months. She waved to supporters from a hotel in Oslo, just hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. This momentous event follows a lengthy period of hiding, which began after Machado was briefly detained on January 9 during a protest in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela.
Machado’s anticipated presence at the award ceremony in Oslo was highly publicized, with numerous heads of state and family members waiting to see her. CBS News revealed that she managed to escape Venezuela through the Dutch-controlled island of Curaçao, located approximately 40 miles north of the Venezuelan coast. The Wall Street Journal was the first to disclose the details surrounding her perilous journey to Oslo.
In an audio recording released on the Nobel website, Machado expressed her regret about not being able to attend the ceremony, emphasizing that many individuals had risked their lives to facilitate her journey to Norway. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, delivered an emotional acceptance speech on her mother’s behalf. “She wants to live in a free Venezuela, and she will never give up on that purpose,” Sosa stated, confidently asserting that Machado would return to Venezuela soon.
During the award ceremony, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, highlighted Machado’s relentless efforts to attend the ceremony despite facing extreme danger. “Although she will not be able to reach this ceremony and today's events, we are profoundly happy to confirm that she is safe,” Frydnes announced, receiving applause from the audience.
In a subsequent Zoom interview with CBS News, Machado, often referred to as Venezuela's Iron Lady, conveyed that the Nobel Peace Prize serves as a powerful message to her fellow Venezuelans: they are not alone in their struggles. “The world recognizes this huge, epic fight,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of international support in the quest for democracy in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s attorney general had warned that Machado would be considered a fugitive if she left the country to accept the Nobel Prize. This highlights the precarious situation surrounding Machado, who has been awarded the Nobel for her unwavering dedication to promoting democratic rights and her relentless struggle to transition Venezuela from dictatorship to democracy.
As Machado continues her fight for a free Venezuela, her recent recognition on the global stage shines a spotlight on the ongoing struggles faced by the Venezuelan people. The international community’s acknowledgment of her courage underscores the vital importance of supporting democratic movements worldwide.