Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado
Credit: Reuters Photo
Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting democratic rights in her country and her struggle to achieve a transition to democracy.
Born on October 7, 1967, Machado is an industrial engineer by training and won a resounding victory in the opposition's primary election in 2023.
However, after being awarded the prestigious prize, Machado is facing criticism after her old posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) have gone viral, where she allegedly supported Israel's military action in Gaza.
Additionally, she is also being criticised for urging Argentina and Israel to "dismantle" the criminal Venezuelan regime.
"Today, all of us who defend Western values stand with the State of Israel, a genuine ally of freedom," Machado had tweeted on May 12, 2021.
According to several media reports, Machado had said that if elected, Venezuela's office will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
"I believe and I can announce that our government will move our Israeli embassy to Jerusalem. I promise one day, well have a close relationship between Venezuela and Israel. that will be part of our support to the State of Israel," she had said as per reports.
A report in NDTV World mentioned that a Norwegian lawyer named Bjornar Moxnes believed that the award does not line with the Nobel's purpose. He stated that Machado in the past had signed a cooperation document with Israel's Likud party, which is said to be "responsible for what happened in Gaza."
(With Reuters inputs)