Politics
Caracas Metropolitan Mayor, Antonio Ledezma; the conductor and music director of Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, and the pianist Gabriela Montero are the three Venezuelans included in the list of the top 100 Ibero-Americans in 2009 selected by the Spanish newspaper El País.

The long list is divided in seven sections: Leaders, researchers and pioneers, politicians, businessmen and executives, film stars, creators, citizens and sportsmen and sportswomen.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva heads the list of leaders.

Venezuelan playwright Ibsen Martínez says that Mayor Antonio Ledezma represents "the choice in Venezuela."

US Justice Sonia Sotomayor is hailed as "America's live dream."

Dudamel is described by José Antonio Abreu, the Venezuelan conductor and founder of El Sistema, as a "prodigious conductor" and "a brilliant architect and extraordinary builder who articulates a sound network and creates unimaginable musical spaces."

Montero is a "musical prodigy," according to the list. The ranking also includes Penélope Cruz, Juanes, Calle 13, Pau Gasol, Pep Guardiola, Alberto Contador, Juan Martín del Potro, Baltasar Garzón and Manuel Zelaya, among others.

There are no other Latin American politicians on the list, which was prefaced by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.