Machado Emerges from Oslo Balcony to Celebrate Nobel Peace Prize, Calls for Venezuela’s Return

After 11 months in hiding, María Corina Machado stepped onto a balcony in Oslo to greet a cheering crowd, following her daughter’s acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize.

A Long‑Awaited Appearance

The Venezuelan opposition leader, 58, was seen in public for the first time in almost a year when she emerged from a hotel balcony in Norway’s capital on Thursday morning. The appearance came hours after her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the prize on her behalf. Machado, dressed in jeans and a puffer jacket, spent several minutes outside the hotel, hugging supporters and waving as the crowd chanted “Freedom! Freedom!” and sang Venezuela’s national anthem.

The Road to Oslo

Machado had been in hiding since January 9, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters in a protest in Caracas. She had been expected to attend the award ceremony on Wednesday, where heads of state and her family were among those waiting to see her. In an audio recording published on the Nobel website, she explained that she would not be able to arrive in time for the ceremony but that many people had “risked their lives” for her to arrive in Oslo. She added, “I am very grateful to them, and this is a measure of what this recognition means to the Venezuelan people,” before indicating that she was about to board a plane.

Flight‑tracking data show that the plane she arrived on flew to Oslo from Bangor, Maine. Machado said, “since this is a prize for all Venezuelans, I believe that it will be received by them. And as soon as I arrive, I will be able to embrace all my family and my children that I’ve have not seen for two years and so many Venezuelans, Norwegians that I know that share our struggle and our fight.”

Solidarity from Latin America

The ceremony was attended by prominent Latin American leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. Their presence signaled a united front in support of Machado’s fight for a democratic transition in Venezuela.

The Nobel Prize and Its Context

The 58‑year‑old Machado’s win for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in her South American nation was announced on October 10. The award came after she won an opposition primary election and intended to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s presidential election. However, the government barred her from running for office, and retired diplomat Edmundo González took her place. The lead‑up to the election on July 28, 2024, saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human‑rights violations. That increased after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared the incumbent the winner.

The Nobel Committee chair, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, told the ceremony that “María Corina Machado has done everything in her power to be able to attend the ceremony here today — a journey in a situation of extreme danger.” He also said, “Venezuela has evolved into a brutal authoritarian state,” and described Machado as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in recent Latin American history.” He added, “Mr. Maduro, accept the election result and step down,” and later remarked, “your power is not permanent. Your violence will not prevail over people who rise and resist.”

A Daughter’s Message

Sosa, who accepted the prize in her mother’s place, said, “She wants to live in a free Venezuela, and she will never give up on that purpose,” and added, “That is why we all know, and I know, that she will be back in Venezuela very soon.” During the lecture written for the occasion by her mother, Sosa also said, “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.”

Voices of Support and Concern

U.N. human‑rights officials and many independent rights groups have expressed concerns about the situation in Venezuela and called for Maduro to be held accountable for the crackdown on dissent. Gustavo Tovar‑Arroyo, a Venezuelan human‑rights activist who fled into exile in 2012, said, “Machado’s supporters ‘did the best for her to be here as she deserves. But we knew the risk.’” He added that they are “disappointed that she cannot be in the ceremony, but this is part of what we do when we fight against a dictatorship, a tyranny or a criminal regime. So we are used to it.”

Historical Context of Nobel Laureates in Detention

The Nobel Peace Prize has a history of recognizing individuals who faced imprisonment or detention at the time of their award. The most recent examples include Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi in 2023 and Belarusian human‑rights advocate Ales Bialiatski in 2022. Earlier laureates include Liu Xiaobo of China in 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar in 1991 and Carl von Ossietzky of Germany in 1935.

A Moment of Hope

Despite the ongoing repression in Venezuela, Machado’s appearance in Oslo and the support from international leaders offer a glimmer of hope for a country that has struggled for democratic governance for decades. The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded on October 10, has become a symbol of resistance and a call for freedom that Machado and her supporters continue to champion.

Key Takeaways

• Machado emerged from an Oslo balcony after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf, marking her first public appearance in 11 months.
• The ceremony was attended by Latin American presidents, signaling broad regional solidarity.
• Machado was barred from running in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, a move that intensified repression and human‑rights concerns.

The event underscores the resilience of Venezuelan opposition leaders and the international community’s support for democratic change in the country.