(Image source from: Instagram.com/mariacorinamachado)
A debate has arisen following Venezuelan democracy advocate Maria Corina Machado receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025. Detractors have highlighted her backing of Israel and its attacks on Gaza, as well as her calls for outside help to remove the government in her homeland. Machado is an essential member of Venezuela's pro-democracy movement, emerging as a strong symbol of bravery among civilians in recent years. The Nobel Prize Committee announced her as the Peace Laureate yesterday for her efforts in advancing democracy and opposing dictatorship in Venezuela. Just hours after the announcement, the White House criticized the decision for "prioritizing politics over peace," especially after struggling to present President Donald Trump as a global peace promoter who has resolved multiple conflicts worldwide. Machado later dedicated her Nobel Prize to Trump, and the US President expressed his happiness for her.
The Nobel Prize Committee praised Machado as a "defender of peace" who has maintained the spirit of democracy in Venezuela during challenging times. Jorgen Watne Frydnes, the chair of the committee, referred to her as a "significant, unifying presence in a previously divided political opposition" in Venezuela. The Committee noted that the methods of democracy are also means for achieving peace, commending Machado for representing the hope for a better future where citizens' rights are safeguarded and their opinions are acknowledged. "In the past year, Machado has had to live covertly. Even with serious risks to her life, she has chosen to stay in the country, a decision that has motivated millions. It is essential to identify brave champions of freedom who resist when authoritarianism takes hold,” Frydnes said during his announcement. Detractors are sharing Machado's past statements supporting Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party to accuse her of endorsing the "genocide" in Gaza.
Even though she stood by Israel after the unexpected Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, she never openly backed the killing of Palestinians. However, her past posts show she supports Netanyahu. Critics are highlighting her statement, "Venezuela's fight is Israel's fight." Two years later, she called Israel a "true friend of freedom." Machado even pledged to move the Venezuelan embassy to Jerusalem if she became president. A Norwegian politician, Bjornar Moxnes, mentioned that Machado signed an agreement with Israel's Likud party in 2020. He stated that the Likud party is responsible for the "Gaza genocide," making the award unsuitable for Nobel's goals. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim rights group in the US, strongly criticized giving her the award, calling it an "outrageous choice." The group said the Nobel Committee should rethink its decision because it hurts their image, in a lengthy online message.
It mentioned students, reporters, campaigners, and doctors who have put their jobs and lives on the line to fight against what they see as the Gaza genocide. Machado is also being criticized for wanting other countries to step in to help her fight against Venezuela's President Nicholas Maduro. Back in 2018, she wrote to Israel and Argentina, asking for their help to change the government in her country. She posted the letter online, stating she was asking the leaders of Argentina and Israel to use their power to help take down the Venezuelan government, which she said was tied to drug dealing and terrorism.
