In a television interview with Luis Novaresio in A24, the pastor and communicator Dante Gebel He left a series of definitions about his media role, his link with politics and the rumors that surround him, in a context in which his figure began to be observed beyond the evangelical sphere.
Gebel sought to get rid of the traditional labels associated with his pastoral activity. In that sense, he proposed a definition that summarizes his public position: “I am not a pastor, pastors are people who smell like sheep,” he stated, trying to differentiate his profile as a preacher from the classic ecclesiastical model, reinforcing his self-perception more linked to communication than to formal religious ministry.
Asked about his eventual insertion into Argentine politics, he avoided categorical definitions but did not close the door either. In recent months, his name began to circulate as a possible electoral outsider, especially based on his public conversations with Mario Pergolini, who asked him directly if he would consider a presidential candidacy. Gebel then responded that “he did not rule it out,” which activated speculation about a political group that includes sectors of non-Kirchnerist Peronism, unionism, and leaders disenchanted with the libertarian ruling party.
In the interview with Novaresio, the communicator was also asked about his relationship with political leaders. In connection with Sergio Massa, He hinted that he does not maintain a close personal connection, avoiding locating himself within traditional party structures. That discursive line was maintained when referring to Peronism, from which he sought to distance himself organically, despite rumors that link him with sectors that promote him as a candidate. The construction of his figure, in that sense, appears closer to that of an outsider with a transversal arrival than to an aligned leader.
Regarding the current political scenario, his comments included indirect references to figures such as Javier Milei and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, in a more analytical than militant tone. In various recent public interventions, Gebel has shown a critical view of the rift and extreme leadership, suggesting the need for a renewal of leadership, although without openly positioning himself in favor of either pole.
Gebel’s public projection is explained by an unconventional media career. In Argentina it achieved notoriety in the nineties with massive events such as the “Youth Superclassics”who filled stadiums with religious and motivational proposals. He then moved his activity to the United States, where he expanded his influence as a pastor and communicator, developing television programs such as “Dante’s Divine Night.” His hybrid style—between entertainment, self-help, and preaching—allowed him to build a wide and diverse audience.
In parallel, his relationship with Pergolini fueled the media and political dimension of his figure in the country. Both participated in exchanges where the possibility of a leap into politics was explored, which led to the appearance of spaces that promote their candidacy, such as the “Argentine Consolidation” movement. Although Gebel did not formalize any application, the mere fact of not ruling it out contributed to installing him in the public conversation.
That crossover between religion, entertainment and politics was also expressed in his show “President”a stage proposal that combined humor, reflection and winks to the national situation. The show, in line with its style, sought to challenge from an emotional perspective rather than a partisan perspective, and had a significant reception in terms of attendance, reinforcing its ability to mobilize audiences outside the strictly religious sphere.
Thus, the interview with Novaresio confirmed a discursive strategy that mixes political ambiguity, media construction and an atypical pastoral identity. Gebel presents himself as a communicator rather than as a traditional religious leader, he avoids pigeonholing himself into parties but does not rule out politics, and maintains a presence that oscillates between television and—increasingly—public debate about power.
by RN
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