Lula government avoids commenting on Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado

The government maintained official silence about granting the grant to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who lives in hiding under threats from dictator Nicolás Maduro, a former political ally of the Brazilian president. Although he participated in public events throughout the day, Lula did not address the topic. The Presidency of the Republic and Itamaraty avoided saying whether they would make any official statement.

In previous years, the Brazilian government publicly commented on some award winners, such as Juan Manuel Santos (2016) and ICAN (2017), but does not adopt a uniform practice. The Presidency’s special advisor, Celso Amorim, criticized the award, stating that it had a political bias and questioning its practical consequences. “I don’t question the Nobel Prize in relation to her personal and moral qualities. For Brazil, what matters is the impact that this could eventually have on pacification and reconciliation in Venezuela”, said Amorim, adding that there are those who fear that the award will encourage military intervention in the neighboring country.

Behind the scenes, members of the government, including diplomats, show reservations about an official demonstration. One diplomat highlighted that a gesture in favor of María Corina could irritate Maduro and generate diplomatic noise, even with communication channels maintained since 2023. Another recalled that the Venezuelan leader “has been enthusiastic about North American actions in the Caribbean, which does not contribute to the stability of the region”.

On the domestic political level, the reaction was polarized. The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), celebrated the choice on social media, stating that the award “delegitimizes Maduro’s dictatorial regime” and sends a message to those who “defend this execrable regime”.

*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Felipe Cerqueira