In a significant development regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, María Corina Machado, the esteemed Venezuelan opposition leader, will be absent from the awards ceremony scheduled in Oslo, Norway on Wednesday. This announcement was made by Kristian Berg Harpviken, the director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, during an interview with the public broadcaster NRK.
Harpviken confirmed that Machado is not present in the Norwegian capital on the day of the ceremony. Instead, her daughter is set to accept the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. The Norwegian Nobel Institute has not provided immediate responses to inquiries from The Associated Press, which sought clarification on the situation.
The day prior to the ceremony, a scheduled news conference where Machado was expected to speak was abruptly canceled. This cancellation raises concerns about Machado’s well-being, especially since she has not made a public appearance in nearly a year. Her last sighting was on January 9, when she participated in a protest in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, where she was briefly detained.
At 58 years old, Machado has been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy in Venezuela. Her Nobel Peace Prize win, announced on October 10, was in recognition of her relentless efforts to promote a democratic transition in her country. She has been described as a figure who "keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness."
Machado previously won an opposition primary election and aimed to challenge the current president, Nicolás Maduro, in the presidential elections of last year. Unfortunately, the Venezuelan government barred her from running, leading to the appointment of retired diplomat Edmundo González as her replacement. The lead-up to the next election, set for July 28, 2024, has been marred by widespread repression, including political disqualifications, arrests, and numerous human rights violations.
The situation in Venezuela has escalated, particularly after the National Electoral Council, heavily influenced by Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner of the last election. Following these events, González fled to Spain, seeking asylum after a Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant against him.
As the world watches these unfolding events, María Corina Machado’s absence at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony symbolizes the ongoing challenges faced by those advocating for democracy in Venezuela. Her daughter’s acceptance of the award underscores the importance of continuing the fight for freedom and human rights in a nation grappling with deep political turmoil.