Supporters of Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado gathered across multiple continents on Saturday, staging coordinated demonstrations ahead of next week’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. The events, held in more than 80 cities, reflected efforts by her organization to use the award’s visibility to draw attention to Venezuela’s political crisis and ongoing calls for a democratic transition.
Marches took place in Madrid, Utrecht, Buenos Aires, Lima, and other major cities, where crowds carried portraits of Machado and Venezuelan flags. In Lima, participants described the prize as a recognition of the broader struggle faced by Venezuelans, including those who have been imprisoned or killed in political unrest. Many carried signs asserting that the award belonged symbolically to the nation.
Gatherings unfolded across South America as well. In Bogotá, supporters held a religious ceremony while dressed in white, asking that the prize serve as a source of hope. In Buenos Aires, roughly 500 people assembled at the steps of Argentina’s largest university, turning their phone flashlights into an improvised torchlight match.
These demonstrations occurred during heightened geopolitical tension. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, prompting warnings from President Nicolás Maduro, who has described the buildup as a potential threat to Venezuelan sovereignty. Opposition messaging that it remains prepared to eventually govern has further intensified political friction.
Machado, who released a video earlier in the week, said the Nobel recognition highlighted years of perseverance among Venezuelans seeking political change. She won the prize on Oct. 10 for her role in advocating a peaceful transition and was acknowledged for what the committee called her continued commitment amid deteriorating democratic conditions.
Machado, 58, secured victory in the opposition’s primary but was barred from running in the 2024 presidential election. Retired diplomat Edmundo González replaced her as the opposition’s candidate. The election period was marked by arrests, disqualifications, and broader reports of repression. After the National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner, González left for Spain following the issuance of an arrest warrant, while Machado went into hiding in early January after a brief detention in Caracas.
