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Venezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
According to the Nobel Committee, she was recognized for her efforts to promote democratic rights in Venezuela and for her resistance to President Nicolás Maduro, who is widely viewed as a dictator accused of manipulating elections to maintain power.
“When authoritarian regimes take control, it is essential to honour the brave defenders of freedom who stand up and resist,” the committee said in its statement.
The announcement followed recent comments by Donald Trump, who suggested that he himself was worthy of the prize. During his speech at the UN General Assembly last month, the former U.S. president remarked that “everyone says I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Speculation about Trump’s chances for the award increased earlier this week after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of his proposed peace plan.
However, Nina Graeger, director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo, told Sky News that the development likely came too late for this year’s consideration. She added that if Trump’s 20-point peace plan ultimately results in a lasting and sustainable peace in Gaza, the Nobel Committee would almost certainly consider it seriously for next year’s prize.
