On December 6, 2025, cities across the globe pulsed with the energy of thousands rallying in support of María Corina Machado, Venezuela’s embattled opposition leader and the latest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. From Madrid to Utrecht, from Buenos Aires to Lima and even as far as Brisbane, these gatherings were not just a celebration of an individual’s achievement—they were a clarion call for democracy and a collective yearning for change in Venezuela.
According to the Associated Press, Machado’s organization had anticipated demonstrations in more than 80 cities worldwide. The timing was no coincidence: the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was set for December 10, and supporters wanted to seize the moment to spotlight Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for democratic transition. In Lima, demonstrators draped themselves in Venezuela’s yellow, blue, and red flag, while clutching posters that boldly declared, “The Nobel Prize is from Venezuela.” They carried portraits of Machado and demanded a “Free Venezuela,” their chants echoing through the Peruvian capital’s streets.
For many, Machado’s recognition was deeply personal. Verónica Durán, a 41-year-old Venezuelan who has lived in Lima for eight years, told the AP, “It represents all Venezuelans, the fallen and the political prisoners in their fight to recover democracy.” Her sentiment was mirrored in other cities. In Bogotá, Colombian capital, Venezuelan expatriates donned white T-shirts and carried balloons as part of a religious ceremony. Their hope, as reported by Al Jazeera, was that the Nobel Peace Prize would “be a symbol of hope” for the Venezuelan people, a beacon amid years of darkness.
Meanwhile, in Buenos Aires, about 500 people gathered on the iconic steps of the law school at Argentina’s largest university. There, supporters improvised a torchlit march using their cell phones, creating a sea of lights that flickered in the night. Nancy Hoyer, a 60-year-old participant, captured the mood: “We Venezuelans in the world have a smile today, because we celebrate the Nobel Prize of María Corina and of the entire Venezuelan diaspora and of all the brave people within Venezuela, who have sacrificed themselves…we have so many martyrs, heroes of the resistance.” Hoyer went further, expressing a view held by some in the diaspora: that U.S. intervention in Venezuela was “necessary.”
This wave of international solidarity comes at a particularly fraught moment for Venezuela. The Trump administration had, in the weeks leading up to the rallies, escalated its military presence in the Caribbean, repeatedly threatening strikes on Venezuelan soil. President Nicolás Maduro, who has ruled since 2013, saw the U.S. operation as a direct attempt to unseat him. The opposition, emboldened by Machado’s Nobel win and the global attention it brought, reignited its promise to soon govern the country. As reported by the AP, these developments have only deepened the sense of crisis and urgency among Venezuelans at home and abroad.
In a video message shared on December 2, Machado addressed her supporters with a tone of both resolve and gratitude: “We are living through times where our composure, our conviction, and our organization are being tested. Times when our country needs even more dedication because now all these years of struggle, the dignity of the Venezuelan people, have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize.” Her words, circulated widely on social media, struck a chord with demonstrators from Lima to Madrid.
Machado, 58, has become a symbol of resistance for many. She won the opposition’s primary election and had intended to run against Maduro in the July 28, 2024, presidential election. However, the government barred her from running, a move widely condemned by international observers. The government’s crackdown didn’t stop there: retired diplomat Edmundo González, who replaced Machado as the opposition candidate, was forced to seek asylum in Spain after a Venezuelan court issued a warrant for his arrest. The lead-up to the election was marked by widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests, and human rights violations. According to Al Jazeera, the country’s National Electoral Council—stacked with Maduro loyalists—declared him the winner, despite credible evidence and independent observers indicating the opposition had won overwhelmingly.
The aftermath saw Machado herself retreat into hiding. She was last seen in public on January 9, 2025, after being briefly detained following an underwhelming protest in Caracas. The very next day, Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term, cementing his grip on power. As reported by multiple outlets, Machado has remained out of sight since, her whereabouts closely guarded due to the ongoing security risks.
Yet, even from the shadows, Machado’s influence has grown. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10, 2025, specifically for her unwavering fight to achieve a democratic transition in Venezuela and for “keeping the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness,” as the Nobel committee put it. The head of the Nobel Institute, Kristian Berg Harpviken, confirmed to AFP that Machado “will be in Oslo for the ceremony” on December 10, though details of her arrival remained secret due to security concerns.
For many Venezuelans, both at home and in the diaspora, Machado’s Nobel win is more than a personal accolade—it is a rallying cry. Her organization has stated its intention to use the international spotlight to highlight Venezuela’s democratic aspirations and to draw attention to the plight of political prisoners, the fallen, and those who continue to resist inside the country. The rallies held in more than 80 cities were a testament to this strategy, transforming what could have been a solitary honor into a global day of solidarity.
The political context surrounding these events is as complex as it is volatile. Maduro’s re-election in July 2024 was dismissed as a sham by the U.S. and other Western governments. As the AP reported, independent observers said the opposition won overwhelmingly, yet the official results told a different story. The mounting repression, the exile of opposition leaders, and the international community’s refusal to recognize Maduro’s legitimacy have all combined to create a powder keg atmosphere—one where any spark, such as a Nobel Peace Prize, can ignite worldwide action.
As the world watches Oslo and the Nobel ceremony, Venezuelans everywhere face a crossroads. The rallies of December 6 were not just a celebration of a prize, but a reminder that the struggle for democracy in Venezuela continues—on the streets, in exile, and in the hearts of millions who refuse to give up hope.
