LEILA FADEL, HOST:
It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Leila Fadel.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
And I'm A Martínez. Venezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, won this year's Nobel Peace Prize earlier this morning. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said Machado's tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela is, quote, "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times."
NPR international correspondent Eleanor Beardsley is covering the announcement. So, Eleanor, tell us about Maria Corina Machado.
ELEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Well, A, she is a right-leaning democracy activist in Venezuela, the leader of the democratic forces fighting the authoritarian regime of Nicolas Maduro. And the committee called her a courageous defender of freedom who refused to stay silent and lives in hiding in her own country to fight for democracy. They described how she led her followers to count the votes at the polls in the 2024 presidential election before it could be stolen by Maduro. Here is the Nobel Committee chair, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, announcing the Peace Prize this morning.
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JORGEN WATNE FRYDNES: Despite the risk of harassment, arrest and torture, citizens across the country held watch over the polling stations. They made sure the final tallies were documented before the regime could destroy ballots and lie about the outcome.
MARTÍNEZ: So what message do you think, Eleanor, the Nobel Committee is trying to send here?
BEARDSLEY: Well, it's certainly sending a message about the whittling away of democratic norms and freedoms across the world. They said Venezuela was hardly the only place sliding into autocracy and depression. Here again is Jorgen Watne Frydnes.
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FRYDNES: However, we live in a world where democracy is in retreat, where more and more authoritarian regimes are challenging norms and resorting to violence. The Venezuelan regime's rigid hold on power and its repression of its population are not unique.
MARTÍNEZ: Eleanor, it's seemed that President Trump has had the Nobel Peace Prize on his mind for at least a little bit. And just this week, the Gaza peace plan that he brokered is going into effect. Do you think the people that wanted him to win will be disappointed?
BEARDSLEY: Well, maybe a little, but they won't be displeased because Machado is a pick that will appeal to Trump supporters and democracy advocates. She might even be seen as controversial. She's a big supporter of President Trump and praises the administration frequently. Here she is on Fox News reacting to when the Trump administration offered a $50 million award for the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.
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MARIA CORINA MACHADO: We are very grateful to President Trump for his decisive action towards freedom in Venezuela and the region. The Trump administration knows very well that Maduro is the head of a terrorist criminal organization.
BEARDSLEY: So we haven't heard any reactions yet from Maduro, A, or anybody else in the region. But I think this pick of the Nobel Committee this year is going to generate a very lively reaction and discussion in the region and beyond. Machado is 58 years old. She served in the National Assembly of Venezuela, and she began her political career in 2002 as the founder of the vote-monitoring organization Sumate. And she actually ran for president last year until she was barred. We haven't heard any reactions from either Maduro or others in the region yet, but no doubt the Nobel Committee's choice this year will generate lively discussion.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. That's NPR's Eleanor Beardsley. Thanks for all the information.
BEARDSLEY: You're welcome.
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MARTÍNEZ: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm A Martínez.
FADEL: And I'm Leila Fadel.
(SOUNDBITE OF KREATEV & 88JAY'S "MID-NIGHT") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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