Machado Greets Oslo Crowds After Year in Hiding

Venezuela’s leading opposition figure, María Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has arrived in Norway after secretly leaving her country by boat. Machado, who has been in hiding for 11 months, made a public appearance in Oslo early Thursday, greeted by supporters chanting for freedom.

Machado’s Dramatic Escape and Arrival

Machado appeared on the balcony of Oslo’s Grand Hotel at just before 2:30 a.m. local time. Dozens of supporters chanted “Courageous!” and “Freedom!” and sang the Venezuelan national anthem, proclaiming, “Glory to the brave nation, which shook off the yoke​!”

Minutes later, the 58-year-old politician descended to the street, embracing supporters gathered outside the hotel.

Her arrival follows Wednesday’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, where her 34-year-old daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the award on her behalf. Machado was unable to attend due to being forced into hiding by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after he was accused of stealing the July 2024 presidential election.

International Reaction and Maduro’s Response

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, used the ceremony to urge Maduro to step down, stating that last year’s election was won by Machado’s ally, Edmundo González. Frydnes hailed Machado’s “struggle to achieve a peaceful and just transition from dictatorship to democracy” in Venezuela and called for “a new age” to dawn.

Members of Maduro’s regime denounced Machado’s award, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez calling the Nobel ceremony “a total failure” and claiming Machado was “scared.” Rodríguez also stated the 2025 Nobel prize was “stained with blood.”

Maduro, speaking at a rally in Caracas, called on the Trump administration to cease its “illegal and brutal interventionism” and warned citizens to be ready “to smash the teeth of the North American empire if necessary.”

Machado reportedly faced delays due to bad weather while attempting to escape Venezuela, traveling by boat toward the Caribbean island of Curaçao.

Analysts suggest Machado is well-positioned to lead Venezuela should Trump succeed in removing Maduro from power, though Maduro’s downfall remains uncertain, having previously withstood a similar campaign of pressure in 2019.