Nobel Peace Prize Winner María Corina Machado's Triumphant Secret Journey

María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Venezuelan opposition leader, secretly traveled to Oslo to receive her award amidst a travel ban and political turmoil at home. She plans to return it to Venezuela later. Machado's journey underscores ongoing tensions in Venezuelan politics and international relations.

María Corina Machado, the recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has plans to return her award to her homeland of Venezuela. Despite declining to specify when the return will occur, her departure for Oslo was shrouded in secrecy. Machado arrived in Norway just after the official ceremony, missing the formal portion of the event.

At 58, the engineer defied a years-long travel ban to receive the award, symbolizing her commitment to the Venezuelan people from whom she's been cryptically absent for over a year. "I've accepted this prize on behalf of the Venezuelan populace and will take it back at the right time," she declared in the Norwegian Parliament, opting for discretion as to her itinerary. Machado was poised to converse with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere later that same day.

Her arrival in Oslo was greeted with celebration; she presented herself from the Grand Hotel's balcony, participating in Venezuela's national anthem with her supporters. Following the impromptu address, she personally connected with the crowd, defying barriers to do so. Despite winning the opposition's primary election, Machado was barred from participating in the presidential vote last year amid escalating government crackdowns against dissenters.

(With inputs from agencies.)