Daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Accepts Award Amid Turmoil

Thu Dec 11 2025 03:10:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

María Corina Machado's daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepts the Nobel Peace Prize for her mother, who remains in hiding in Venezuela amid political unrest.

Ana Corina Sosa delivered her mother's acceptance speech after María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against dictatorship in Venezuela. In her speech, Sosa emphasized her mother's commitment to a free Venezuela. Machado's absence was overshadowed by her ongoing hiding following the controversial elections in Venezuela. The ceremony sparked hope among supporters while highlighting Machado's struggle and resolve.

A daughter of María Corina Machado, winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, has said her mother is determined to live in a free Venezuela and will never give up as she accepted her mother's award in Oslo.

Just before the ceremony, the Venezuelan opposition leader, who has been in hiding, sent a voice message saying she was safe and on her way to the Norwegian capital, but would not make it to the ceremony in the City Hall in time.

Ana Corina Sosa accepted the award on her mother's behalf and delivered a lecture written by her mother.

The Nobel Institute awarded Machado the prize for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.

The opposition leader's daughter started off her speech by speaking of the personal impact of not being able to see her mother for two years. Machado went into hiding shortly after Venezuela's disputed presidential election in July 2024.

Her daughter told the audience: And as I wait [for] that moment to hug her, to kiss her, to embrace her, after two years, I think of the other daughters and sons who do not get to see their mothers.

Ms Sosa then read the speech written by her mother, telling the audience that Venezuelans will hug again, fall in love again, hear our streets fill with laughter and music. She added: All the simple joys the world takes for granted will be ours.

In City Hall, which included members of Norway's royal family, Ms Sosa received a long round of applause and a standing ovation. There had been speculation about whether Machado would be able to defy a travel ban to attend the ceremony. In an audio recording shared by the Nobel Institute, Machado said: I will be in Oslo, I am on my way. However, the director of the Nobel Institute, Kristian Berg Harpviken, said she was expected to arrive sometime between this evening and tomorrow morning - too late for the ceremony.

The last time she was seen in public was on 9 January when she spoke to her supporters at a rally protesting against the swearing-in of Nicolás Maduro to a third term as president.