Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a decision that surprised some observers and disappointed others, the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 has been awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the decision on Friday, citing Machado’s steadfast efforts to promote democratic rights and freedoms in Venezuela a country long marred by political repression, economic crisis, and authoritarian rule.
The committee praised Machado for her “unwavering commitment to democratic principles and her advocacy for peaceful political change in Venezuela,” noting that her work has come at significant personal cost. Over the past two decades, she has faced political persecution, disqualification from public office, and threats to her safety, yet has remained a central figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement.
This year’s Peace Prize announcement came amid an unusual backdrop: a highly public campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to win the prestigious award. Trump, had openly lobbied for the prize, claiming his diplomatic efforts particularly in the Middle East deserved recognition.
Four former U.S. presidents have received the Nobel Peace Prize: Theodore Roosevelt (1906), Woodrow Wilson (1919), Jimmy Carter (2002), and Barack Obama (2009). Of these, Carter was the only one to receive the honor after leaving office. Obama’s selection was especially notable, as it came less than eight months into his first term, sparking both praise and controversy at the time, a timeline that many of Trump’s supporters hoped would be mirrored in his own case.
However, the Nobel Committee ultimately chose to recognize grassroots democratic activism over high-level diplomacy this year. In doing so, it signaled a return to the prize’s original spirit: honoring those who challenge injustice and work toward peace under difficult and often dangerous conditions.
Maria Corina Machado’s selection underscores the ongoing struggle for democracy in Latin America, and particularly in Venezuela, where opposition voices continue to be silenced and elections are widely viewed as neither free nor fair. With this award, the Nobel Committee has amplified her message and lent international legitimacy to a cause that, for many Venezuelans, feels increasingly distant.
As the world reacts to the committee’s decision, one thing is clear: the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has once again sparked global conversation not only about who deserves recognition, but also about what peace, democracy, and leadership truly mean in today’s world. We at EgyptDailynews.com congratulates Ms. Machado, however we feel strongly that President Trump should’ve won this prize.
