Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has not managed to arrive in Oslo on the eve of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, leaving her family, the Venezuelan diaspora, and the international community in suspense.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute confirmed on Tuesday that a scheduled press conference with Machado was canceled due to the uncertainty of her arrival in Norway's capital, as reported by EFE.
"The press conference will not take place today," stated Erik Aasheim, a spokesperson for the Nobel Institute, as quoted by EFE. The event was initially rescheduled but ultimately canceled due to the opposition leader's challenges in traveling from Venezuela, where she remains in hiding due to Nicolás Maduro's regime's persecution.
The Nobel Institute reminded that Machado herself has described in interviews how "complicated the journey to Oslo will be," a trip fraught with open threats from the Chavista regime and a delicate security operation surrounding her departure.
In November, the Committee acknowledged the real risks involved in the transfer, although at that time, Machado reaffirmed her intention to be present at the ceremony.
This Tuesday, her sister, Clara Machado Parisca, who is already in Oslo with her mother, Corina Parisca, and the leader's daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, emphasized that the Nobel laureate wishes to arrive on time.
"Her intention is to be here with us," she told Blu Radio. "We are waiting with faith that she will arrive very soon." However, she admitted not having information on whether the leader has left Venezuela.
While the main figure of the award remains missing, Oslo has begun to welcome a series of leaders and supporters who will accompany Wednesday's ceremony.
Among them is Edmundo González Urrutia, the president-elect of Venezuela and an opposition candidate in 2024, who arrived in Oslo on Tuesday in what many see as a historic gesture of support for the democratic struggle.
Also present in Norway's capital is Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, with expectations for the attendance of Argentine Javier Milei, Ecuadorian Daniel Noboa, and Paraguayan leader Santiago Peña.
The award, granted on October 9, honors Machado's "tireless work" defending democratic rights in Venezuela. She dedicated the accolade to the Cuban, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan people, emphasizing that the fight for freedom in the region is a shared one.
Today, however, uncertainty overshadows celebration. Whether Machado will manage to cross borders to personally receive the Nobel Peace Prize remains a mystery just hours before the ceremony. Her family insists she will arrive. The world waits. Her absence, temporary or permanent, will set the political tone of an award that is already a continental symbol.
María Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize Journey
Why is María Corina Machado unable to attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo?
María Corina Machado faces difficulties in leaving Venezuela due to the persecution by Nicolás Maduro's regime, making her journey to Oslo complicated and uncertain.
Who are the notable leaders attending the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo?
Notable attendees include Edmundo González Urrutia, president-elect of Venezuela, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Argentine Javier Milei, Ecuadorian Daniel Noboa, and Paraguayan leader Santiago Peña.
What does the Nobel Peace Prize recognize in María Corina Machado's efforts?
The Nobel Peace Prize acknowledges María Corina Machado's relentless advocacy for democratic rights in Venezuela, and she has dedicated the prize to the Cuban, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan people.