Editorial by Juan Perfetti.
María Corina Machado (let’s call her MCM) is an honest, brave, and peaceful Venezuelan woman from a wealthy background. Unlike many in politics, she has no need for power or money from public office.
A Roman Catholic, divorced, and the mother of three children now living in exile due to death threats in Venezuela, she has lived the past years under constant persecution. Most of her education took place in Venezuela, where she earned a degree in industrial engineering and a master’s in finance, though she also spent part of her youth at Dana Hall School here in Massachusetts. In 2002, she co-founded the civic organization Súmate, dedicated to promoting electoral transparency and citizen participation, and later served as a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly from 2011 to 2015.
Known for her stubborn defense of private property, individual liberty, and democratic reform, she has become one of the most recognizable faces of the Venezuelan opposition. In 2023, the Venezuelan dictatorship stripped her of her political rights for fifteen years, effectively barring her from holding any political office.
Marco Rubio, the first proudly Hispanic U.S. Secretary of State, once called her Venezuela’s “Lady of Steel.” Today, she stands as the leading enemy of the country’s socialist dictatorship.
Yet, growing up in Venezuela, I remember when she wasn’t the first choice among the mainstream opposition. She earned that position over time. Having lived between Venezuela and the U.S., as I raise my children in America and watch the growing similarities between both nations’ political environments, I’ve come to a clear realization: MCM was right all along. I’m embarrassed I didn’t see it sooner.
The reason she hasn’t reached power is not because she lacks ability or charisma. It’s because she is a genuine capitalist who believes in capitalism for the Venezuelan people. And that, in itself, makes her a threat to the socialist establishment, both in government and the opposition, who will stop at nothing to block her.
Here’s the thing: if Venezuela were to truly embrace capitalism, most of today’s politicians—whether “left” or “right”—would lose their power. Their careers, built on managing poverty and controlling resources “for the people,” would collapse. For decades, these leaders have effectively enslaved Venezuelans under the façade of equality, preserving a divided society of elites and servants while the majority struggle to survive in one of the richest lands God ever created.
And even if it’s painful to admit, this didn’t begin with Hugo Chávez. He took the mask off a system that had taken shape decades earlier, when Venezuela’s so-called bipartisan order solidified into a political class. Politicians, the media, academia, and the military all aligned around a single goal: using the state to preserve their power and control the nation’s wealth under the illusion of “equality.” The nationalization of oil only deepened this trap, spreading corruption even further. Their influence extended beyond Venezuela, first through the co-founding of OPEC and later into the United States through Citgo.
Since Nicolás Maduro assumed dictatorial control, silencing opposition, disqualifying candidates, and manipulating elections (including annulling MCM’s presidential run), Venezuelan democracy has collapsed entirely. Even once-respected opposition figures, like Henrique Capriles, now seem to fall under the regime’s influence. The political plague of socialism has infected every corner of power.
The pattern is clear: if you’re a capitalist who believes in free enterprise for the Venezuelan people, you will be banned, persecuted, exiled, or worse.
A humble Nobel
And yet, despite all odds, Machado was recently awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
At first, I was surprised. Then I was greatly moved. Years of struggle, isolation, and persecution, and still, she remained peaceful and determined. The Nobel Peace Prize should raise global awareness about those who fight tyranny with courage and moral strength. In MCM’s case, it certainly does.
But I was especially moved by her humility when she dedicated her award not only to the Venezuelan people but also to… President Trump.
Perhaps MCM, in her modesty, thought, “He deserves this more than I do.” After all, Trump, as President of the United States, is one of the few modern presidents who did not start any major wars during his term and managed to keep global tensions from boiling over. Yet I can’t help but think that her dedication also highlights just how dire the situation is in Venezuela… maybe as a desperate cry for help.
An inspiration for America, too
Both Venezuelans and Americans should be proud that MCM’s Nobel Peace Prize serves as a beacon of hope for all who fight tyranny and socialism.
It should come as no surprise that in America, things have drifted in the wrong direction. Socialists are running for office across the country with hopes of winning. Even respected institutions seem confused. Publicly-supported NPR labeled MCM “far-right” after interviewing her about the Nobel Prize.* How absurd. How biased can NPR be now? Here’s a woman deprived of her political rights in her own country, supported by millions of people who are tired of being enslaved, simply standing for basic individual freedom and economic opportunity for the people of Venezuela. To consider her a “far-right” figure is almost tragicomic.
It makes me wonder whether Venezuela’s socialist collapse wasn’t merely tolerated but actively encouraged by global power players who fear competition from a liberated, capitalist Venezuela.
When those in power remain unchecked for too long, they begin shaping society to serve their interests. Politicians, media, academia, and the military become intertwined, just as they did in Venezuela. I believe it’s time to stop framing politics in America as a simple right vs. left debate. The real struggle is between capitalism and socialism.
MCM’s Nobel Peace Prize is a light at the end of the tunnel. Her recognition should signal not only the possibility of freedom and prosperity in Venezuela, but also serve as a reminder to the United States of the value of the capitalism that once fueled its strength. The revival of true capitalism in Venezuela would strengthen not just one nation, but the entire hemisphere, including the United States, where socialist narratives are increasingly gaining ground.
Despite its flaws, capitalism has allowed human life to flourish, and in the last century alone, the world’s population has quadrupled thanks to its principles.
María Corina Machado and the Venezuelan people not only deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. They also deserve support, understanding, and, most importantly, prayers.
(*) NPR removed the “far-right” label on October 15, 2025, likely due to public backlash. More details here.
