María Corina Machado defends the arrival of democracy in Venezuela in Oslo
María Corina Machado appeared publicly in Oslo, the capital of Norway, after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This was her first public appearance after more than a year in hiding due to political pressure from the Venezuelan regime led by Nicolás Maduro.
The Venezuelan opposition leader took advantage of her stay in the Scandinavian country to demand the arrival of democracy in Venezuela and thus be able to enjoy a period of social and political peace.
Public appearance in Norway
María Corina Machado's highly anticipated public appearance in Norway has challenged the Venezuelan government, as the opposition leader has used the platform provided by the Nobel Peace Prize to denounce the political persecution of the opposition in the South American country.
María Corina Machado had not left Venezuela for 14 years due to her personal situation and was living in hiding for security reasons, as there are fears for her safety given her fierce opposition to the Bolivarian regime in Venezuela.
Dozens of people chanted María Corina Machado's name upon her arrival in Oslo on Wednesday night, praising her courage and bravery in facing suffocating political pressure in her country from a political regime that has been denounced by various sectors for practising political persecution and repression against opponents.
Following her arrival on Wednesday night, a political programme was organised for the Venezuelan opposition leader on Thursday, with official events at the Norwegian Parliament, including a meeting and a press conference with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
¡Oslo, aquí estoy! pic.twitter.com/tsixUerj0q
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) December 11, 2025
The Norwegian Prime Minister reaffirmed Norway's support for María Corina Machado in the face of the Venezuelan regime and showed his support for Venezuela as a country: ‘We are determined to support Venezuela.’
For her part, María Corina Machado stated that Venezuela needs real democracy, something that would finally lead to social peace. ‘Without a doubt, democracy is necessary for peace. I believe that our experience in Venezuela sends a message to the world: without a doubt, democracy is necessary for peace, but you cannot have democracy without freedom. And freedom is a rational decision,’ said the Venezuelan opposition leader.
María Corina Machado also expressed her feelings after the emotional reunion with her children in Norway: ‘I couldn't sleep last night, going over and over the moment of reuniting with my children. I hugged all three of them at once, and it was one of the most spiritually extraordinary moments of my life.’
"I am convinced that peace is an act of love, and that is what brings me here: the love of millions of Venezuelans for their country and for freedom. And I believe that there is no generation in the history of Venezuela that loves freedom and the possibility of moving freely in your own country more than this one. The force that unites our country has been that desire. We want our children to come home, and we will not stop," said María Corina Machado.
María Corina Machado herself indicated that she will return to Venezuela when security conditions allow, whether President Nicolás Maduro is in power or not.
A risky journey
María Corina Machado has risked her personal safety by coming to Norway. In fact, the BBC published an interview with the Venezuelan politician in which she said she had to cross a dozen military checkpoints in disguise and travel from Curaçao to Oslo on a private plane from Miami. María Corina Machado said that many men and women risked their lives so that she could reach the Norwegian capital and appear in public after her experience of living in hiding from the political persecution of the Venezuelan regime she denounces.
María Corina Machado risked her personal safety to be able to appear in Oslo and appear before the Norwegian Nobel Prize Institute, which was highlighted by the prize organisers. Although she did not attend the award ceremony, which was attended by her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, she was able to reach Norwegian territory safely and be reunited with her family, who had previously made a risky journey to the Scandinavian country.
