Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her decades-long struggle against authoritarianism, fearless defense of democracy and her bold moral leadership in a country racked by crisis.

Known as “Venezuela’s ‘Iron Lady,'” Machado has been in hiding for more than 14 months after refusing to bow out after Nicolás Maduro declared victory in a US- and EU-criticized election. 5

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The US and most Venezuelans, according to a recent survey , do not recognize Maduro’s leadership as legitimate after he stole the past two elections.

Machado, in the face of disqualifications, threats, and forced silence, has persisted — pushing for free elections, mobilizing citizens, exposing human rights abuses and serving as the moral conscience of her c

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