María Corina Machado, praised for her fight for democracy in her home country of Venezuela, smiles as she talks about the future during her first press conference in Norway.
"I assure you that I am very hopeful," she tells the press corps in the Storting.
I look forward to the day when we can welcome you all to a free Venezuela.
After a dramatic escape, Machado arrived in the Norwegian capital late Wednesday, barely half a day after her daughter accepted the peace prize on her mother's behalf. There, she was greeted by a cheering crowd and family members she had not seen in months, as she lived in hiding to avoid arrest by Nicolás Maduro's authoritarian regime.
"I couldn't sleep last night. In my head I went over and over the moment when I saw my children," she says with tears in her eyes at Thursday morning's press conference.
“Just one in a million”
Before the trip, she had visualized the meeting for months, pondering which of the children she should hug first. In the end, she embraced all three at the same time.
It was one of the most extraordinary, spiritual moments of my life.
Machado promises to continue fighting so that other Venezuelan mothers and children can experience the same thing: being reunited after being forced apart by the regime.
"In the end, I'm just one of millions of Venezuelan mothers who want to hug their children," she notes.
The press conference in the Storting was held side by side with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who expressed joy and gratitude that Machado had made it safely to Norway after a few uncertain days.
The United States helped
Hours later, at a press conference with the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Machado confirms that the US government helped her escape from Venezuela.
Coming to Oslo was important, she says, addressing Venezuelans in exile in Norway and the rest of the world.
I wanted to come here and collect the prize to take it back to Venezuela. I will be returning home soon – and so will you.
The Peace Prize laureate has been questioned for his support for US President Donald Trump and his Venezuela policy, with US airstrikes on suspected drug boats and escalated threats against the regime in Caracas.
"Some people talk about an invasion of Venezuela, the threat of an invasion of Venezuela. And I answer that Venezuela is already invaded," Machado comments on the criticism.
