Anon10/11/25, 02:16No.1446800
The 58-year-old former legislator and presidential candidate has been the face of the Venezuelan opposition, particularly after being disqualified from the 2024 election by Maduro’s government. Edmundo González, who replaced her on the ballot, celebrated the win from exile in Spain, calling it “a well-deserved recognition of the long struggle of a woman and an entire people for our freedom and democracy”.Machado has remained in hiding since January, after publishing electoral records that opposition groups say demonstrated her victory in the July 2024 election. The Venezuelan government, dominated by Maduro loyalists, rejected those results and declared Maduro the winner in a vote widely condemned by international observers. No credible evidence was presented to support Maduro’s declared victory.In the aftermath, protests erupted across the country and were met with deadly force. More than 20 people were killed in demonstrations, and hundreds were arrested. Dozens of Machado’s campaign allies sought refuge at diplomatic compounds, with many later fleeing the country. Human rights organization Foro Penal reports that more than 800 political prisoners remain behind bars, including Machado’s son-in-law Rafael Tudares.In a letter shared Friday from Caracas, Machado wrote, “Venezuelans have suffered 26 years of violence and humiliation at the hands of a tyranny obsessed with subjugating citizens and breaking the soul of the nation. The machinery of oppression has been brutal and systematic, characterized by detentions, torture, forced disappearances and extrajudicial executions.”Despite the risks, Machado has remained in the country. The Nobel Committee cited her decision not to leave as a major factor in awarding her the Peace Prize. “When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,” Frydnes said.