India, Oct. 10 -- Venezuela's influential opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of her nation and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.

The announcement ended US President Donald Trump's hope of winning the prestigious title this year.

"This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree," the statement said.

Venezuela's authoritarian regime makes political work extremely difficult.

Ahead of the 2024 polls, her candidacy was blocked by the regime.

She then backed the representative of a d...