Francisco Javier Vidal Salinas (born 20 September 1953) is a Chilean politician and scholar.
Francisco Vidal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Defense | |
| In office 12 March 2009 – 11 March 2010 | |
| President | Michelle Bachelet |
| Preceded by | José Goñi |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Ravinet |
| Minister General Secretariat of Government | |
| In office 6 December 2007 – 12 March 2009 | |
| President | Michelle Bachelet |
| Preceded by | Ricardo Lagos Weber |
| Succeeded by | Carolina Tohá |
| In office 3 March 2003 – 24 May 2005 | |
| President | Ricardo Lagos |
| Preceded by | Heraldo Muñoz |
| Succeeded by | Osvaldo Puccio |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 24 May 2005 – 11 March 2006 | |
| President | Ricardo Lagos |
| Preceded by | José Miguel Insulza |
| Succeeded by | Andrés Zaldívar |
| Undersecretary of Regional and Administrative Development | |
| In office 11 March 2000 – 3 March 2003 | |
| President | Ricardo Lagos |
| Preceded by | Marcelo Schilling |
| Succeeded by | Adriana Delpiano |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1953 Santiago, Chile |
| Political party |
|
| Spouse | María Inés Maturana Waidele |
| Children | Three |
| Parent(s) | Carlos Vidal Vargas María Salinas Opazo |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Teacher of History |
In 1971, he began his political career at the rightist National Party.[2][3]
He was Chile's Minister of National Defense[4] from March 2009 to March 2010. Before this position he served as Minister Secretary General of Government of Chile during the administrations of Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet and Interior Minister during Lagos's mandate.
He is a professor of history at the University of Chile.