Nobel Institute Cancels María Corina Machado Oslo Press Conference After Venezuelan Opposition Leader Remains Missing

Nobel officials in Oslo abruptly canceled a planned press conference with Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado after saying her current whereabouts were unknown, creating uncertainty about whether she will attend Wednesday's award ceremony at Oslo City Hall.

“The institute said the press conference – which has not been rescheduled – had been cancelled because Venezuela opposition leader Machado’s whereabouts remain unknown”

Al Jazeera

The Norwegian Nobel Institute confirmed the cancellation and described Machado's location as unknown, and multiple outlets reported the institute had delayed then called off the event amid questions about her arrival.

Al Jazeera

The cancellation came as ceremony preparations continued, with organisers stressing they would proceed to highlight Venezuela's situation and the prize's democratic message.

Machado has faced travel restrictions and has been in hiding for an extended period, though sources differ on the timing and circumstances.

Several outlets report she is subject to a decade-long travel ban imposed by the Maduro government and that she has been in hiding for anywhere from months to more than a year.

BBC

Al Jazeera and multiple outlets say she was last seen at a Caracas protest on 9 January, while other reports claim she has been operating from hiding since August 2024 or has been in hiding since January.

The Nobel Institute said it does not know her current whereabouts, which adds to the uncertainty.

Despite Machado’s uncertain presence, the Nobel ceremony is expected to draw high-profile attendees and regional leaders.

“Published:December 09, 2025 at 11:48AM EST The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News”

CTV News

The Straits Times and Devdiscourse said the event at Oslo City Hall would be attended by Norway’s royal family and several Latin American leaders.

La Voz de Ibiza and MercoPress list invited or attending regional heads of state, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa and Paraguay’s Santiago Peña, and note relatives and supporters are already in Oslo.

Organisers said they would ensure the ceremony would stress Venezuela’s democratic crisis even if the laureate’s personal attendance remained unclear.

Venezuelan government figures and prosecutors have sharply denounced Machado's prize and warned of legal consequences if she leaves the country.

Domestic reactions add a confrontational political layer to the Oslo uncertainty.

Devdiscourse

La Voz de Ibiza reported that Chavismo called for a march and that Diosdado Cabello denounced the prize as an "auction."

Cabello claimed to know Machado's whereabouts and repeated she would be treated as a "fugitive" if she leaves.

Al Jazeera quoted Attorney General Tarek William Saab warning she faces probes for "conspiracy, incitement of hatred [and] terrorism" and would be considered a fugitive.

The government also announced closure of the ICC's technical office in Venezuela, according to La Voz de Ibiza, underlining growing institutional tensions.

Coverage varies in tone and in what reporters emphasize, with some outlets highlighting Machado’s ties to allies of former US president Donald Trump and critical voices while others foreground exile communities, family in Oslo, or safety concerns.

“The expectation in Norway grew to the maximum this Tuesday after the Nobel Institute cancelled, without further explanation, María Corina Machado’s press conference”

La Voz de Ibiza

Devdiscourse and Al Jazeera note criticism over her ties to Trump and report that she dedicated the prize to him.

La Voz de Ibiza

La Voz de Ibiza focuses on exiles and family members who traveled to Norway to await her possible arrival.

Zoom Bangla and MercoPress underscore fears for her safety and the delicate position this creates for the Nobel Committee.

Taken together, the reporting shows consistent uncertainty about Machado’s whereabouts but divergent emphases that shape different reader impressions.