opposition leader Maria Colina Machado of Venezuela won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised her as a unifier of Venezuela’s political opposition. Machado remains in hiding because his life is threatened. Her courage was an inspiration to many, especially as President Nicolas Maduro’s government targets its opponents.
This is a photo gallery carefully selected by AP photo editors.
Opposition leader Maria Colina Machado addresses supporters during a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the eve of his third term inauguration in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, January 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
Former congresswoman and opposition leader Maria Colina Machado holds the Venezuelan flag outside the attorney general’s office in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, December 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Ariana Kubijos, File)
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado addresses supporters during a protest against President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 9, 2025, the day before he was inaugurated for a third term. (AP Photo/Ariana Kubijos, File)
Opposition leader Maria Colina Machado greets supporters at a campaign rally for presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in Maturin, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
María Colina Machado leads a protest against the re-election of President Nicolas Maduro, which the opposition claims won in a landslide, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, August 28, 2024, one month after a controversial presidential vote that the opposition claims won in a landslide. (AP Photo/Christian Hernandez, File)
Opposition presidential candidate Maria Colina Machado gestures to supporters during a rally in Valencia, Carabobo state, Venezuela, Thursday, October 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariana Kubijos, File)
Opposition leader Maria Colina Machado (center-left) and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez duck to avoid power lines while riding on the roof of a truck during a protest against the official presidential election results declaring victory for President Nicolás Maduro, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Caracas, Venezuela, two days after the vote. (AP Photo/Christian Hernandez, File)
Opposition leader María Colina Machado is hugged by her supporters during a rally urging people to stand by their faith in San Antonio, Venezuela, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado addresses supporters at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro on the eve of President Nicolas Maduro’s third term inauguration in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, January 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
Opposition leader Maria Colina Machado waves from atop a truck during presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez’s final campaign rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
Presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez (center left) and opposition leader Maria Colina Machado (center right) greet supporters during an election rally in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Delacroix, File)
On Monday, January 29, 2024, opposition coalition presidential candidate Maria Colina Machado holds a press conference outside her campaign headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, days after the country’s Supreme Court upheld her ban from running for president. (AP Photo/Ariana Kubijos, File)