Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
Machado, the opposition leader in Venezuela, has largely been in hiding since last year's presidential elections. She's recognised "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela" and "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy". Machado is "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times."
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The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to United States president Barack Obama (b. 1961) for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award on October 9, 2009, citing Obama's promotion of nuclear nonproliferation and a "new climate" in international relations fostered by Obama, especially in reaching out to the Muslim world.
Obama said he was "surprised" and "deeply humbled" by the award. In remarks given at the White House Rose Garden on the day of the announcement, Obama stated, "I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations."
@helenS The reason is given above. You can agree or disagree with their view of whether he merited it. But that is the reason why they awarded him the prize.
