The Venezuelan opposition leader, this year’s winner, has managed to leave Venezuela to travel to Oslo, the Norwegian capital, although she will not be able to attend the award ceremony, which will be held this Wednesday at the city’s City Hall, as reported by the Norwegian Nobel Institute. “He has done everything possible to attend today’s ceremony. A trip in a situation of extreme danger,” “We are deeply happy to confirm that she is safe and will be with us in Oslo.”
Machado’s possible arrival in Norway has caused enormous expectation inside and outside Venezuela. Initially, the 58-year-old opposition leader was expected to appear for the first time in Norway at the traditional press conference that precedes the handover ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday at one in the afternoon (local and mainland Spain time, eight in the morning in Venezuela). The meeting with the media was postponed and then definitively canceled by the organizers.
“Maria Corina Machado herself has stated in media interviews. Therefore, at this point we cannot give any information about when or how she will arrive at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony,” reported Erik Aasheim, spokesperson for the Nobel Institute, who announced a couple of weeks ago the opposition leader’s intention to travel to the Scandinavian country to collect the prize.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute reported early on Wednesday that the opponent would not be at the gala in Oslo. “Unfortunately, he is not in Norway now. And he will not be on the stage of Oslo City Hall at one o’clock today, when the ceremony begins,” added the director of the . Ana Corina Sosa, Machado’s daughter, will be the one to collect the award in his honor: a medal and a diploma. Traditionally, after the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents its reasons for awarding the prize during the ceremony, the winner or someone on his or her behalf gives a speech, traditionally known as the Nobel Lecture.
“He simply lives under the threat of death from the regime,” said the director of the Norwegian Institute about the logistical difficulties in being able to count on Machado’s presence. “That threat also applies when he is outside the country, both from the regime and from the regime’s friends around the world,” Harpviken added. Machado’s team has not yet released the reasons why he will not be able to be present or information about where the opposition leader is. “It’s a shame, it’s always better when the Nobel winner is present,” lamented the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, in statements to the press in his country.
The conservative politician has been missing since August 2024, just a few weeks after the presidential elections were held in Venezuela last year, in which he was declared the winner, despite accusations of fraud and the recount presented by the opposition that favored the former diplomat by a wide margin. Machado, the most visible figure of dissidence to the Chavista regime, had won the opposition primaries with 93% of the preferences, but was disqualified by the electoral authorities from participating and devoted herself to supporting González’s candidacy.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute announced the award for Machado on October 10, at the height of the military deployment ordered by him in Caribbean waters. Since then, the possibility of the opposition leader leaving the country has been considered, as well as its political implications.
In parallel with the formal delivery ceremony, it is also expected that the hundreds of Venezuelans who have made the trip will be able to follow the event in a square next to the Nobel Peace Center and a few meters from Oslo City Hall. The traditional and a banquet led by senior officials of the Government, the judiciary and the monarchy of Norway are other activities scheduled for this Wednesday.
Four Latin American presidents have been invited by the Venezuelan opposition leader. José Raúl Mulino, from Panama, arrived in the Norwegian capital on Monday. On Tuesday, the controversial Javier Milei, from Argentina, and Santiago Peña, from Paraguay, landed. It is expected that the last to join, this Wednesday, will be Daniel Noboa, from Ecuador.
