OSLO, Norway: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

She was praised for being a "key, unifying figure" in Venezuela's divided opposition, helping them come together to demand free elections and fair government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

"In the past year, Miss Machado has had to hide for her safety. Despite serious threats, she stayed in Venezuela, inspiring millions. It is important to honor brave defenders of freedom who stand up against authoritarian rulers," he added.

President Nicolás Maduro's government has often targeted opponents. Machado planned to run against Maduro in last year's presidential election, but the government disqualified her. Edmundo González, who had never run for office before, replaced her. The election period saw arrests, disqualifications, and human rights abuses.

After the election, Maduro was declared the winner by the National Electoral Council, which is controlled by his allies, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. This led to nationwide protests, which were met with violence, leaving more than 20 people dead. Several countries, including Argentina, cut diplomatic ties with Venezuela.

Machado went into hiding in January and hasn't appeared in public since. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González, who later moved to Spain and received asylum. Last year, both Machado and González received the European Union's top human rights award, the Sakharov Prize.

Before the announcement, there had been rumors that U.S. President Donald Trump might win the prize, partly because of his own hints and his recent Gaza ceasefire plan. Frydnes said the committee does not let media campaigns or outside pressure influence its decision. "We only judge based on the work and will of Alfred Nobel," he said.

Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize went to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors who have long worked to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. The Peace Prize is the only Nobel Prize awarded in Oslo, Norway.