Oct. 10 (UPI) -- María Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has worked to restore democracy to her country, won the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Friday.
The committee hailed Machado as "one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times" for her work to promote human rights and attempts to end the dictatorship of President Nicolás Maduro.
"Ms. Machado has been a key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided -- an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government," a news release from the committee said.
"This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy: our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even though we disagree. At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground."
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