Mariluz Palma, who leads Maria Corina Machado’s Vente Venezuela political movement in Colombia, is particularly emotional after Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize. Palma expressed her pride, stating that Machado deserves this recognition for her sacrifices for Venezuela’s freedom. Many Venezuelans will gather in Bogota to celebrate Machado’s victory. Palma, now a national director of Vente Venezuela in Colombia, is among nearly 3 million Venezuelans who have fled to Colombia due to the crisis in their home country.
Alejandro Mendez, also part of the Venezuelan community in Colombia, feels the prize validates their struggle for liberation and democracy in Venezuela. Machado, a significant opposition leader, has been barred from the 2024 elections and supported Edmundo Gonzalez, who is now exiled. President Nicolas Maduro, who claims election victories since 2013, faces accusations of fraud from the opposition and observers.
Experts believe that the Nobel Prize will reinforce Machado’s role as the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, despite her lack of formal title. It is also expected to increase Maduro’s isolation internationally and create more tensions within his government. The government has not publicly addressed the award yet. Christopher Sabatini warns that while the prize highlights ongoing issues in Venezuela, it remains uncertain how both Maduro’s government and the international community will respond to this recognition.
With information from Reuters