Overview

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited Machado’s tireless defense of democratic rights and her leadership unifying the opposition under demands for free elections and representative government.
• Officials at the Norwegian Nobel Institute informed her by phone minutes before the public announcement, and she reacted emotionally, saying she was in shock.
• The committee noted she has spent the past year in hiding under serious threats yet chose to remain in Venezuela, which it said has inspired millions.
• Machado dedicated the prize to the Venezuelan people and to U.S. President Donald Trump, as international figures from the UN and EU framed the award as support for Venezuela’s democratic aspirations.
• The prize will be presented in Oslo on December 10 with a gold medal, diploma and $1.2 million, as debate continued over expectations that had built around Trump’s potential candidacy and the White House criticism of the decision.