The inauguration of Virginia Gallardo in the Chamber of Deputies, held yesterday, reignited the debate about the arrival of entertainment figures into politics. The media, who entered as a representative of La Libertad Avanza, was sworn in accompanied by her daughter and wearing a white outfit that quickly became a topic of conversation. His final phrase, “As a Corrientes, for the family, for childhoods and for a better future for all, I swear,” was overshadowed by the repercussions generated by his look.
Before taking office, Gallardo had been questioned for entering politics from entertainment. However, on this occasion the criticism focused on her clothing: the Unión por la Patria deputy Florencia Carignano ironically insinuated that the brand new legislator seemed “dressed for a wedding.” Gallardo responded with the same platform, highlighting that the view of women is still tied to stereotypes and that the focus should be on legislative work.
The internal defense of the ruling party was added to the intersection between the two. La Libertad Avanza publicly supported Gallardo, with statements such as those of Bertie Benegas Lynch, who had already claimed his incorporation into the space as part of a genuine renovation. But the strongest reply came from the libertarian representative María Celeste Ponce, who harshly questioned Carignano: “The unattractive representative @florcarignanook ‘correcting’ @virchugallardo’s clothes. Wasn’t it that feminism came to liberate us?” In another message he added: “Kirchnerist ‘sorority’ was always this: locker room police, militant envy and control of other people’s bodies. Well, not long ago he also called @lilialemoine a ‘cat’…”.
The episode revived the discussion about the symbolic demands that weigh on legislators who come from the television field and about how politics, especially on social networks, tends to become a permanent scrutiny of the body, image and origin more than of the proposals. While some users questioned her qualifications for the position, others defended her right to take office without being reduced to her media past.
Gallardo’s swearing-in went viral in a matter of minutes, becoming a scene that once again exposed the tension between Congress and digital culture, where each gesture is amplified and each legislator is evaluated before even beginning their task.
