A statement from National Endowment for Democracy President and CEO Damon Wilson:
On behalf of the National Endowment for Democracy, we congratulate María Corina Machado on receiving the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work in promoting democratic rights and values in Venezuela and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from authoritarianism.
This honor is not only a tribute to her personal courage and her leadership, but also to the broader movement for freedom she represents: the millions of Venezuelans who peacefully mobilized and voted in July 2024 for a democratic transition that the Maduro regime refused to recognize and brutally repressed. Their courage in choosing ballots over violence embodies the spirit of peace and representative democracy that this prize celebrates.
When María Corina joined us for NED’s 2024 Democracy Awards, she spoke powerfully of the moment her country is living through: “We are seeing a unique, unprecedented, social movement growing day after day—defeating fear, getting all people back together around the values we share. We want to live with dignity, with freedom, and with our families, together.”
Those words echo far beyond Venezuela. They capture the heartbeat of every democratic struggle: the belief that ordinary citizens, bound by shared values and love of family and country, can overcome fear and reclaim their future.
Her recognition by the Nobel Committee affirms a truth that guides NED’s mission: that democracy must be built from the ground up, by individuals and communities working to advance their rights and their dignity. It underscores that the path to freedom is inseparable from justice and participatory governance.
Congratulations, María Corina. Your courage and conviction light the way for all who believe in liberty’s promise, and strengthen our shared hope for a free and democratic Venezuela.
