During the ceremony, the Gold Medal was awarded to a distinguished opposition leader, while the International Medal was bestowed upon Venezuela's president-elect, whose distinction was accepted by his daughter due to health issues. The event took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
“"I am convinced that you will go down in history as the first female president of Venezuela. The path chosen by the citizens is freedom and the ballot box to democratically elect this woman."
The president of the Community of Madrid emphasized the importance of the Venezuelan leader's resistance and example, stating that she has kept “the flame of hope alive” among citizens, both inside and outside their country. She stressed that her figure will remind Venezuela “of the dignity of a Nation that will fight until the end to recover its democracy and freedom”.
Furthermore, the achievement of the opposition leaders in presenting an alternative supported by an “unquestionable majority” in a complex electoral process was highlighted. The Madrid president noted that the victory against the Venezuelan president came at a high personal cost for the opposition leader, including a period of isolation, but that she “continued to risk her life holding massive rallies in the streets of Caracas”.
In her speech, the president asserted Madrid's role as “the home of all Spanish accents, the main square of Hispanidad, the true Nation of nations”. She also criticized those who, in her words, “intend to do with Spain the same as those who fragment us throughout the world through nationalisms and the black legend”.
Finally, the president explained that the medals are a token of support and gratitude. In the case of the opposition leader, her “tireless work in favor of democracy, the defense of human rights, and freedom” was recognized. Regarding the president-elect, his election in the July 28, 2024, elections was valued, recognized by institutions such as the European Parliament, the Congress of Deputies, the Senate, and the Assembly of Madrid.
