María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize and its impact on Venezuela: “This may be the prelude to actions to come”

The Nobel Peace Prize and its possible winner had previously generated great expectations because the president of the United States, donald trumphad not hidden his desire to have it granted to him. The American president seemed to have a favorable position after presenting himself as the great mediator of the agreement for the first phase of the peace plan in the Gaza Strip, along with his intervention in other conflicts such as that of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee opted for Machado considering crucial and courageous his permanence in the territory of Venezuela “despite facing serious threats to his life.” Opposition politics have lived underground since the 2024 presidential elections, in which Nicolás Maduro retained power, despite serious allegations of fraud.

“Venezuelans have suffered 26 years of violence and humiliation at the hands of a tyranny obsessed with subjugating citizens and breaking the soul of the nation. (…) Today we are very close to achieving our goal. This award is a unique impulse that injects energy and confidence into Venezuelans, inside and outside the country, to complete our task,” declared the activist in a statement published in X.

Machado also dedicated words to the American president, with whom he maintains good relations, pointing out that “they are on the verge of victory and are counting more than ever on President Trump, the people of the United States and the democratic nations of the world to achieve freedom.”

The president received these words willingly, as expressed in a message on his social network Truth Social. According to information from Bloomberg, he would have called the Nobel winner to congratulate her. However, discontent over the decision was expressed through Steven Cheung, White House communications director.

“President Trump will continue making peace agreements, ending wars and saving lives. (…) The Nobel Committee demonstrated that they put politics above peace,” said the American spokesperson.

What awaits Venezuela

The news has been received with enthusiasm in Venezuela, in the words of Jorge Carrasquero, a political analyst born in that country. In dialogue with El Comercio, the specialist analyzed the impact that the Nobel Peace Prize delivered to Maria Corina Machadoboth from the discursive field and in the more concrete measures against the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro.

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-What impact does the Nobel Peace Prize have for Venezuela in general terms?

I think that This puts Venezuela back on the world’s agenda with a fight that had been left orphaned. After the elections of July 28, 2024, Venezuelans felt that they had been abandoned to their fate, few countries provided their support and Peru was one of them, but there were few who supported the Venezuelan struggle and protested that Maduro had stolen the elections. Putting this back on the table represents a recognition of this shower that has been taking place over 15 months.

María Corina has continued to represent the will of the Venezuelan people, who expressed themselves in the elections and yet remain kidnapped. I say this because there are indirect ways to deprive people of their freedom and that is what the regime has applied to them.

“Venezuela was kidnapped by other powers, it became the throwing weapon of Russia, Iran, China and Cuba”

-Beyond the international discussion, can there be any impact at a level of more concrete actions against the current regime?

I don’t see the issue of (American) intervention in the same way as the rest of the people, because I don’t Venezuela was kidnapped by other powers a while ago, it became the throwing weapon of Russia, Iran, China and Cuba. Venezuela does not belong to itself, so (it is well regarded) anything that would serve to rescue a kidnapped sovereignty, to some Venezuelans who said “we do not want Maduro” and, however, were not listened to or taken into account.

You are in a situation where you say “in the end is it really bad that there is an action that returns control of the country to the Venezuelans?” Because what is evident to me is that Maduro is not president, because he did not win the elections and if he did not win the elections, what he is doing is usurping power that does not belong to him.

I know that it is difficult for a journalist to say because the journalist believes that it is politically correct to call Maduro president and it is not, basically because he did not win an election.

-It is well known that Donald Trump, without hiding it, aspired to the Nobel Peace Prize. Could this affect the relationship between him and María Corina Machado or will it remain on the same terms?

A report I just read says Trump has called her to congratulate her. One can say whatever about Trump, but it is not childish. He is not going to back down on procedures or movements because he has not been given the Nobel Peace Prize.

That of course does not deny that has seen an expression of annoyance from the White House because they didn’t give the award to Trump, that’s also true. However, this discomfort cannot be translated into ignoring the other person or acting against them, because after all it is not Maria Corina the one who makes the decision.

-From the citizens’ side, has the recognition of Machado been seen with hope or only as something symbolic?

This may be the prelude to actions to come. Venezuelans have been calm because the regime applies state terrorism. In Venezuela There are more than 2,000 people imprisoned after the elections and if the regime does not like what someone says, they look for them and put them in prison. This is a terrorist regime and people do not express their discontent because it could cost them their lives.

Beyond that problem, it brings a lot of joy to people. I have spoken to more than 40 people this morning and there is great emotion. If people do not protest it is because they fear for their lives, it is not the same as protesting in Peru, because in Venezuela They will come looking for you at your house and there is the possibility of being murdered.

“The same military presence in the Caribbean has fueled Venezuelans’ hope that they can get out of this situation”

-Then we talk more specifically that there is a feeling of hope.

The same (US) military presence in the Caribbean has fueled Venezuelans’ hope that we can get out of this situation we are experiencing. It was demonstrated on July 28 when the majority of people voted against Maduro, in a proportion of two to one.

That is already an issue in itself, but if people see that their leader is being recognized, the message is that the international community begins to see Maduro as a dictator and his leader (Machado) as a representation of the democratic struggle that had existed, it is positive.

-From what you mention, does a possible intervention by the United States have a favorable opinion from an important group of Venezuelans? This is taking into account that the participation of the military can pose a risk to civilians.

Yesterday I received a letter written by a psychiatrist concerned because a Venezuelan soldier had come to her with desires to commit suicide because he feared that he would be sent to war. The Venezuelan army is in its worst historical condition, it does not have the capacity to confront an army of the size of the United States on its own ground.

The majority of Venezuelans want that and I can tell you that with complete confidence. Most of them want someone to come look for Maduro and take him away. Within the Armed Forces there is no willingness to sacrifice for a person who is not the true representative of the victory of July 28, but rather a character who usurped power and maintains it through terror.