María Corina Machado Emerges From Hiding to Attend Nobel Ceremony in Oslo, Daughter Confirms

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has resurfaced publicly for the first time in nearly a year, traveling to Oslo after months of hiding inside Venezuela. Her daughter announced the development during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, where she accepted the award on Machado’s behalf. The appearance marks a significant moment in Venezuela’s tense political landscape, as Machado had been largely invisible since early January.

According to accounts shared during the ceremony, Machado left her safe location in Venezuela and made her way to Norway despite longstanding restrictions placed on her by President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. For nearly a decade, the government has barred her from international travel, repeatedly insisting that she would be treated as a fugitive if she attempted to leave the country. Her reemergence, reported by political observers, demonstrates both her determination to remain a central figure in the nation’s democratic struggle and the growing international attention around her case.

Machado had retreated into hiding after an arrest warrant was issued against her earlier this year. The last time she had been seen in public was in January, when she was briefly detained while departing a political rally held a day before Maduro was sworn in for a new term. According to eyewitness reports circulated at the time, security forces moved swiftly to detain her, a gesture many interpreted as a warning to other opposition voices.

Following that incident, Machado avoided public view, moving discreetly to evade capture. Her prolonged absence, according to analysts who follow Venezuelan politics, underscored the increasing pressure faced by the country’s pro-democracy activists and the tightening environment for dissent.

Her decision to attend the Nobel ceremony in Oslo has renewed international scrutiny of the Maduro government’s treatment of political opponents. Human rights organizations have highlighted her journey as further evidence of systemic repression, according to statements from regional advocacy groups.

Machado is expected to use her appearance in Oslo to amplify calls for democratic reforms, even as questions persist about what awaits her upon returning to Venezuela. Her sudden emergence, after nearly a year in the shadows, marks a pivotal moment not only for her movement but also for the broader struggle for political freedom in the country.