Why it matters:
The decision highlights the lack of public support for opposition calls and underscores the limits of using international awards as political leverage against the Maduro government.
The big picture:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado this year’s prize, a move critics say is intended to increase pressure on Caracas.
The committee stated Machado would travel to Oslo to receive the award, while expressing concern about her return.
Machado previously admitted in Western media interviews that she cannot leave hiding as long as Maduro remains in power, reflecting the opposition’s isolation.
What they're saying:
The party claimed “unsafe conditions and repression” prevented gatherings, but observers point to calm across Venezuela and public indifference to foreign-backed appeals.
Exiled opposition groups plan symbolic rallies in 24 countries under the campaign “The Nobel Belongs to Us,” largely supported by Western governments.
Go deeper:
Attempts to turn the Nobel Peace Prize into a political tool against Venezuela appear to have faltered, as domestic calm and government authority outweigh external pressure.
Norwegian Peace Council Boycotts Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony
Hossein Amiri - ahmad shirzadian
