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Daughter receives Nobel Prize on behalf of Venezuelan opposition leader
María Corina Machado, this year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, remains in hiding but is en route to Oslo, the Nobel Institute confirmed. Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the award on Wednesday, delivering a speech penned by Machado at Oslo's City Hall.
Machado's commitment to a free Venezuela
The Nobel Institute honored Machado for her "struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy" in Venezuela. Sosa emphasized her mother's resolve, stating she would "never give up" on restoring freedom to the country.
In her speech, Sosa reflected on the personal toll of Machado's two-year absence, addressing families separated by Venezuela's political crisis. "I think of the other daughters and sons who do not get to see their mothers," she said.
A message of hope from exile
Reading Machado's prepared remarks, Sosa painted a vision of Venezuela's future: "We will hug again. Fall in love again. Hear our streets fill with laughter and music." She declared that the nation's journey toward freedom "has always lived inside us," framing the struggle as a return to normalcy.
"All the simple joys the world takes for granted will be ours. We are returning home."
The audience, including Norway's royal family, responded with a standing ovation.
Uncertainty over Machado's arrival
Speculation swirled for weeks over whether Machado, under a travel ban and in hiding since July 2024, could attend the ceremony. The Nobel Institute initially reported no updates on her whereabouts, fueling concerns among supporters.
In an audio message released by the Institute, Machado stated, "I will be in Oslo, I am on my way." However, Nobel Institute Director Kristian Berg Harpviken later clarified she was expected to arrive "between this evening and tomorrow morning," missing the 12:00 GMT ceremony.
Machado's two children and mother are already in Oslo, awaiting a reunion after years of separation.
Venezuela's contested election and crackdown
Machado's disappearance followed Venezuela's disputed July 2024 presidential election, which opposition groups and international observers dismissed as fraudulent. The results triggered nationwide protests and a violent government crackdown, with approximately 2,000 arrests, including many from Machado's coalition.
Despite the risks, Machado-who had united Venezuela's fractured opposition-continued to rally supporters through social media, posting videos and interviews from hiding. Her Nobel Prize win intensified global attention on her plight and the broader crisis.
Her last public appearance was on January 9, at a rally protesting Nicolás Maduro's inauguration for a third term.
Secrecy surrounds Machado's escape
Details of Machado's journey to Europe remain undisclosed. Neither the Nobel Institute nor her team has revealed how she evaded authorities or traveled from her hiding place.
