{{Short description|Venezuelan politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Clara Josefina Vidal Ventresca de Pérez (born 1983) in the video 'Bastante Historia Hay Aquí La Resistencia Indígena, con Iraida Vargas y Clara Vidal'.png | caption = In a 2023 interview | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|3|1|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | office = Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Venezuela | president = Nicolás Maduro | term_start = 9 February 2022 | name = Clara Vidal | predecessor = Roside González | party = United Socialist Party of Venezuela<bR>United Socialist Party of Venezuela Youth<br>United Indigenous Movement of Venezuela }}
'''Clara Josefina Vidal Ventresca de Pérez''' (born 1 March 1983) is a Venezuelan politician of the Kariña people. She has been Minister of Indigenous Peoples in the National Assembly of Venezuela since 9 February 2022, having previously served in the role in 2016.
== Biography == Vidal is a member of the Kariña people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Eudo |date=2022-02-10 |title=Nueva ministra de los Pueblos Indígenas es Kariña |url=https://www.radiofeyalegrianoticias.com/nueva-ministra-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-es-karina/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias |language=es |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926124937/https://www.radiofeyalegrianoticias.com/nueva-ministra-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-es-karina/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Llull |first=Marcos |date=2024-05-27 |title=Inicia en Venezuela la XVII Asamblea General de los Pueblos Indígenas de América Latina y el Caribe |url=https://www.nodal.am/2024/05/inicia-en-venezuela-la-xvii-asamblea-general-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-de-america-latina-y-el-caribe/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=NODAL |language=es |archive-date=May 19, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250519053327/https://www.nodal.am/2024/05/inicia-en-venezuela-la-xvii-asamblea-general-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-de-america-latina-y-el-caribe/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Vidal is a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela Youth wing (JPSUV) and the politically allied organisation the United Indigenous Movement of Venezuela (MIUVEN).<ref name=":0" /> She has a degree in education and served as Deputy Minister for Training, Intercultural Education and Ancient Knowledge in 2014.{{cn|date=January 2026}} She also served as Deputy Minister of the Communal Territory of the Delta, Mountains, Coasts, and Mangroves.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castillo |first=Julián |date=2022-02-09 |title=¿Quiénes son los nuevos ministros del gabinete de Nicolás Maduro? |url=https://eldiario.com/2022/02/09/nuevos-ministros-del-gabinete-de-nicolas-maduro/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=El Diario |language=es |archive-date=July 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721002857/https://eldiario.com/2022/02/09/nuevos-ministros-del-gabinete-de-nicolas-maduro/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 9 February 2022, Vidal was appointed Minister of Indigenous Peoples in the National Assembly of Venezuela by Nicolás Maduro, having previously served in the role in 2015-2016 after the Ministry of Aloha Núñez.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=Nicolás Maduro designa a cuatro nuevas ministras en su gabinete |url=https://elpitazo.net/politica/nicolas-maduro-designa-a-cuatro-nuevas-ministras-en-su-gabinete/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=El Pitazo |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-09 |title=Maduro colocó otra vez a Clara Vidal en su gabinete de Pueblos Indígenas |url=https://lapatilla.com/2022/02/09/clara-vidal-pueblos-indigenas/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=LaPatilla.com |language=es |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724224827/https://www.lapatilla.com/2022/02/09/clara-vidal-pueblos-indigenas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As Minister, Vidal led the Venezuelan delegation to a United Nations (UN) Committee against Racial Discrimination<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-07 |title=Ministra venezolana: No hay represalias, seguimos trabajando y construyendo la paz |url=https://www.diariolibre.com/mundo/america-latina/2024/08/07/crisis-en-venezuela-ministra-dice-no-haber-represalias/2811720 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Diario Libre |language=es |archive-date=September 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914001315/https://www.diariolibre.com/mundo/america-latina/2024/08/07/crisis-en-venezuela-ministra-dice-no-haber-represalias/2811720 |url-status=live }}</ref> and received her Brazilian counterpart, Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, before their participation at the 17th Ordinary General Assembly of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Reciben a la ministra de pueblos indígenas de Brasil |url=https://primicia.com.ve/nacion/reciben-a-la-ministra-de-pueblos-indigenas-de-brasil/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Diario Primicia |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Venezuela recibe a la ministra de Pueblos Indígenas de Brasil para asamblea de Filac |url=https://eltiempove.com/venezuela-recibe-a-la-ministra-de-pueblos-indigenas-de-brasil-para-asamblea-de-filac/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=El Tiempo |language=es |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527002109/https://eltiempove.com/venezuela-recibe-a-la-ministra-de-pueblos-indigenas-de-brasil-para-asamblea-de-filac/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" />
On International Women's Day in 2022, Vidal commented on the state-run television channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) that "being an Indigenous woman in these times means love, courage, and resilience. We can assume any responsibility we set for ourselves."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arias |first=Marycarmen |date=2022-03-08 |title=Ministra Clara Vidal: «Ser mujer indígena en estos tiempos significa resistencia» |url=https://www.laradiodelsur.com.ve/ministra-clara-vidal-ser-mujer-indigena-en-estos-tiempos-significa-resistencia/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=La Radio del Sur |language=es}}</ref> Vidal also spoke at the event to commemorate "the 531st anniversary of the Day of Indigenous Resistance and Decolonization of the Americas" at the National Pantheon in Caracas in 2023, as the keynote speaker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=531 años de la Resistencia Indígena {{!}} Ministra Clara Vidal: “Seguimos en pie de lucha y resistencia permanente por amor a nuestra patria” |url=https://notiprensadigital.com/531-anos-de-la-resistencia-indigena-ministra-clara-vidal-seguimos-en-pie-de-lucha-y-resistencia-permanente-por-amor-a-nuestra-patria/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Notiprensa Digital |language=es |archive-date=September 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912062858/https://notiprensadigital.com/531-anos-de-la-resistencia-indigena-ministra-clara-vidal-seguimos-en-pie-de-lucha-y-resistencia-permanente-por-amor-a-nuestra-patria/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=Venezuela's Indigenous people celebrate Day of Resistance calling for defense of territory - EFE |url=https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2023-10-12/venezuelas-indigenous-people-celebrate-day-of-resistance-calling-for-defense-of-territory/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=EFE Noticias |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-12 |title=Recuerdan en Venezuela lucha ancestral de pueblos originarios (+Fotos) - Prensa Latina |url=https://archivo.prensa-latina.cu/2023/10/12/recuerdan-en-venezuela-lucha-ancestral-de-pueblos-originarios |access-date=2025-07-29 |language=es}}</ref> She called to safeguard the territory of native peoples in Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite web |last=VTV |last2=HORTA |first2=WILMER DE |date=2023-08-08 |title=Ministra Vidal exhorta salvaguardar pueblos originarios como derecho fundamental |url=https://www.vtv.gob.ve/ministra-exhorta-debate-pueblo-indigena-territorio/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Venezolana de Televisión |language=es}}</ref>
Vidal has also spoken out against demonstrations that took place during the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-07 |title=Ministra Clara Vidal: No hay represalias, seguimos trabajando y construyendo la paz |url=https://elaragueno.com.ve/ministra-clara-vidal-no-hay-represalias-seguimos-trabajando-y-construyendo-la-paz/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=El Aragueño |language=es}}</ref> She was again ratified in her role as Minister of Indigenous Peoples in August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Llull |first=Marcos |date=2024-08-27 |title=Venezuela {{!}} Maduro anunció cambios en su gabinete y realizó un balance de la Segunda Consulta Popular 2024 |url=https://www.nodal.am/2024/08/venezuela-maduro-anuncia-cambios-en-su-gabinete-desde-el-encuentro-con-las-comunas-y-balance-popular/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=NODAL |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-27 |title=Cambios en gabinete de Maduro: Diosdado Cabello es el nuevo ministro de Interior y Justicia |url=https://www.vozdeamerica.com/a/cambios-en-gabinete-de-maduro-diosdado-cabello-es-el-nuevo-ministro-de-interior-y-justicia-/7759213.html |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Voz de América |language=es}}</ref> In July 2025, Vidal was Electoral Commission of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-02 |title=En Claves {{!}} Conclusiones en el Congreso del PSUV y JPSUV detalladas por el presidente Maduro |url=http://www.eluniversal.com/politica/200930/en-claves-concluyo-plenaria-extraordinaria-del-v-congreso-del-psuv-y-iv-de-la-jpsuv |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=El Universal |language=es}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vidal, Clara}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Venezuelan people of indigenous peoples descent Category:Women members of the National Assembly (Venezuela) Category:Members of the National Assembly (Venezuela) Category:Government ministers of Venezuela Category:Women government ministers of Venezuela Category:Nicolás Maduro ministers