Gremios teatrales y política municipal. Buenos Aires, 1926-1930

Abstract

In 1926 a group of artists and theatrical employees founded a political party defined as trade union, and entered the elections that were to take place in Buenos Aires that year. Results of the election surprised both people in and outside the party: People of Theater, that was the name of the party, got his first candidate, the well known actor Florencio Parravicini, elected as councilor. Although political performance wasn’t quite constant, the party of the artists kept its spot until 1930. This article will focus on these events to analyze the organization and participation of artists in the Buenos Aires political scenario. It will also discuss the relationship between trade associations and political parties, and between them and the city government. Also, this article points to a reflection about an actual problem in the political culture of the 1920s Buenos Aires: the meaning of “representation”, and his scope. Trade organization not only put to discussion the text of the law about party associations, but also fueled some traditions and opinions which said that it was required a trade representation arranged from sectorial interest groups.