Venezuela’s Minister Accuses Opposition Leader of Fraud
Venezuela’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, who has long been linked to drug trafficking allegations, asserted on Wednesday that Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader, allegedly “purchased” her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
Cabello’s claims, lacking any evidence, suggested that Machado offered a future gas deal to a Norwegian businessman in return for the prestigious award. He further contended—again without proof—that her accolade is part of a “revenge plot” orchestrated by former President Donald Trump, along with a “Cuban-American family” linked to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. U.S. intelligence reports have described Cabello as being extorted regarding Rubio’s past.
During a recent episode of a weekly socialist talk show where he frequently appears, Cabello went on a tirade against various supposed “enemies” of the regime, including politicians, dissenters, and journalists. Like Nicolás Maduro, Cabello is wanted by U.S. authorities on multiple drug-terrorism charges and is under investigation. There is a $25 million bounty for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
In the broadcast, Cabello read a letter allegedly from a “cooperative patriot,” leveraging this to make unsubstantiated accusations. He often uses similar tactics, claiming the information he shares comes from unnamed informants loyal to the ruling party. Cabello is known for leading Maduro’s oppressive tactics.
“That damn Marco Rubio is trying to get blonde Trump to bow down. And they just handed Corina the Nobel Peace Prize,” Cabello stated, reading from the letter. “It’s all part of a vendetta from a Cuban-American family.”
Cabello accused Machado of being funded by ExxonMobil and linked her to an individual named Thor Leonardo Halvorsen Mendoza, suggesting that Halvorsen pressured in Norway to secure Machado’s Nobel Prize for the sake of future gas deals.
Cabello dismissed the legitimacy of the Nobel Peace Prize, mockingly calling it the “Mercado Libre Peace Prize,” implying that it could be bought online. He indicated that Machado’s efforts to obtain this honor may have backfired, suggesting she is now worse off than before.
Meanwhile, Machado has been in hiding since mid-2024 and dedicated her award to Donald Trump, acknowledging his support for freedom in Venezuela. In a recent interview, she expressed her belief that the award was a recognition of her advocacy for democratic rights within her country.
The announcement of Machado’s award seems to have provoked significant anger from the Venezuelan regime. Maduro, who has prohibited her from running for office until 2030, disparaged her during a recent event, employing derogatory terms.
Cabello further speculated that people would celebrate Machado once she won the Nobel Prize, suggesting that she had hoped for global acclaim. He continued to criticize her for gaining notoriety not just from her award but also due to the backlash she faced worldwide.
Over time, Cabello has threatened retaliatory actions against Machado for her support of U.S. sanctions, repeatedly using his platform to deride her and label her with derogatory terms, linking her to a local legend as a means of insult.
