The grandmothers of Venezuela have never met their grandchildren. Nearly 9 million of the country's children and grandchildren — more than 30 percent of the population — have fled the country that was once one of the richest in South America.
But, Venezuelan opposition leader Mar'a Corina Machado is staying — albeit in hiding — as the government of President Nicol's Maduro moves to find and imprison her.
On October 10, 2025, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado, 56, the Nobel Peace Prize for her "tireless work promoting democratic rights" and her "struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."
Machado was first elected to Venezuela's National Assembly in 2010 with a record vote tally, she was ousted in 2014 for criticizing the regime. In 2023, she won the opposition primary with overwhelming support, positioning her as a presidential contender. Yet, the Maduro government disqualified her. The July 2024, election, widely seen as rigged by Maduro, sparked massive protests.
Today, Venezuela grapples with deepening crises. Nearly 2,000 political prisoners languish in jails, according to Foro Penal. Security forces stifle protests and speech. Maduro's grip, bolstered by allies like Russia and Iran, has eroded international support.
Inflation has surged to triple digits and power outages worsen. Poverty engulfs 73 percent of 28.8 million citizens. Over 5.1 million endure hunger, according to the UN and HumVenezuela.
"People would warn us to watch out for socialism," she told David Friedberg of the All-in Podcast. "We would answer Venezuela is not Cuba. It's not going to happen to us. We found out that you can only live in peace and prosperity if you have freedom and democracy. That's our lesson. Those who offer you for free what you need to get on your own through work, they end up charging you with the most valuable asset you have which is your free capacity to decide and make your own decisions. With socialism people will only be equal in misery and poverty."
