Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado came out on the balcony of an Oslo hotel this Thursday to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She greeted her followers, visibly tired but smiling, and sang her country's anthem with her hand on her heart. In Oslo, she was awaited by her daughter, two sons, sister, and mother. This was her first public appearance since January of this year. Later, Machado came out of the hotel to approach the dozens of Venezuelans gathered outside to welcome her. She approached the barriers set up by the Norwegian police for security reasons and climbed on them several times to get closer to her supporters, shake their hands, blow kisses, and even hug them. Machado's arrival in Oslo was marked by uncertainty. On Wednesday, during a phone call from an unknown location with Jørgen Watne Frydnes, the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, she said she was already 'on her way' to Oslo and that as soon as she arrived, she would be able to hug her entire family 'and so many Venezuelans and Norwegians whom I know and who share our struggle and our efforts.' She repeatedly made the 'thank you' gesture, both from the balcony and later on the street, although she did not give a speech, not even a brief one, something she plans to do in a few hours during a press conference alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Last weekend, she assured the Nobel Institute that she would be in Oslo for the Nobel Prize award ceremony on Wednesday, although on the eve of the solemn event, she could not participate in the traditional press conference of the laureates as planned, nor did she arrive in time at the Oslo City Hall to receive the award. Machado landed at Gardermoen airport at 21:58 GMT after a long journey from Venezuela, where she lives in hiding. However, her team clarified minutes later that she would possibly come out on the balcony to greet the crowd. She was surrounded by mobile phones filming her and shouts of 'Long live!'
María Corina Machado appears on Oslo balcony after receiving Nobel Peace Prize
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, met with family and supporters in Oslo, overcoming initial uncertainty about her arrival.
