Venezuela's political situation has been quite chaotic over the years, especially since the 2024 presidential election, where it has become a stir. Election day was July 28, and the National Election Commission announced that Nicolas Maduro had won, with a vote rate of 51.2%, and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had 44.2%. But the opposition denies this account, saying they have more than 73% of the votes in hand. These records show Gonzalez received 67% of the votes and Maduro only 30%. The Election Commission said it could not release detailed results because of cyberattacks, but the opposition believed this was an excuse and was actually election fraud.

Many international observers have also questioned the outcome, such as the Carter Center and the Organization of American States, saying it was one of the worst election fraud in Latin American history. The United Nations also said it did not recognize. After the election, protests broke out in the streets of Venezuela, and by August 15, 25 people had been killed in these protests, and more than 2,000 people were arrested. Opposition leaders including Maria Corina Machado and Gonzales both publicly refused to accept the results, insisting Gonzales was the winner.

Before the election, Machado was originally the main candidate of the opposition, but the court banned her from running, so she supported Gonzalez instead. The opposition has organized thousands of volunteers as election observers to ensure transparency, although many people face the risk of harassment and arrest. After the election Machado went into hiding because the authorities were arresting people. From her hiding place, she continued to speak out, calling for recognition of the real results. On October 10, 2025, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that it would award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to machado on the grounds that she fought for the * rights of the Venezuelan people and promoted the peaceful transition from dictatorship to *. She has been described as one of the bravest civilian leaders in Latin America in recent years, unifying the divided opposition and emphasizing solving problems with votes instead of bullets. The Committee also mentioned Venezuela's transformation from a prosperous country to an economic collapse, with 8 million people fleeing, the regime silencing opposition voices and maintaining control by rigging elections and imprisonment. After winning the award, machado thanked the Committee through a statement and dedicated the award to the Venezuelan people and Donald Trump, saying that the people recognized Trump's role in supporting the * of the Americas.

Three days after the award, on October 13, 2025, Machado was interviewed by AFP and connected via video from his hiding place. She said bluntly that Maduro's era is over, but he still has a chance to leave peacefully. She extended an olive branch and said that if Maduro gave up power, he could be given personal security guarantees, but these guarantees would not be made public and would have to be discussed privately at the negotiating table. She stressed that now is an opportunity for a peaceful transition, especially the fact that U.S. warships have been massed off the coast of Venezuela. Starting in August 2025, Washington sent eight warships to the Caribbean, the largest military buildup in the Western Hemisphere since the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. The Trump administration has attacked four ships it claims were used for drug trafficking, killing at least 21 people. Some sources say a strike in Venezuela could happen soon. Machado warned that if Maduro continued to resist, he would bear the consequences himself, but whether he talked about it or not, he would step down. She admitted that she was shocked by the award and felt hopeless last week. It was the biggest surprise of her life and was still digesting it three days later.

Maduro said she would use this award and U.S. pressure to overthrow Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, to lead the government for over 25 years. She mentioned that the opposition had sent information to the military, police and civil servants to help promote transitional safeguards, especially to the regime-dependent armies. She revealed that more and more soldiers were contacting them and providing intelligence. When asked whether to consider the uprising, she said that civilians and soldiers were working. She didn¡¯t guess the U.S. would not intervene, but confirmed that it was communicating smoothly with the Washington, Latin America, and European governments. Maduro called her the Devil Witch, and said she was calling for foreign invasion. She avoided the details of contacting Washington, but noted that prizes and military

The opposition has gathered votes that prove victory and regime fraud. The election committee is believed to be controlled by the government to declare Maduro winning by a cyber attack, but did not give details. Maduro accused Maduro of declaring war on the Venezuelans, saying the real invaders were Cubans, Russians, Iranians, Hezbollah, Hamas, drug trafficking groups and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces guerrilla. Venezuelans have no guns, only voices, citizenship organizations, pressure and condemnation. She claims that the Venezuelan people recognize Trump¡¯s rule because they feel it is just and necessary, and this is a signal that Venezuela needs his leadership and an international alliance. Gonzalez has openly called for her to be vice president, and she said

After the interview, the Venezuelan government closed the Norway Embassy in response to the award. The Foreign Minister announced the decision and the embassy staff evacuated. Machado continued to speak out from his hiding place, emphasizing the final stage. The crackdown continued and her supporters continued to be arrested. The U.S. warships remained in position, and the Trump administration continued to operate to sink suspected drug trafficking ships. Machado insists Maduro will leave, whether through negotiations or otherwise. She stayed in hiding and the situation remained tense. The opposition continues to share vote records, spreading them online and calling for international recognition. The government upheld the election results and did not release more data. Soldiers privately contact the opposition and exchange information. International pressure continues, and the United States maintains its reward for Maduro.