Argentine left-wing lawmakers swear allegiance to a “free Palestine” in Congress

Argentina’s swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members of Congress erupted into controversy last week when several left-wing lawmakers broke from the standard oath of office to deliver political statements pledging allegiance to a “free Palestine,” transforming a normally procedural event into a public political clash.

During the formal session at the National Congress, multiple deputies from far-left parties replaced the traditional pledge of loyalty to the Constitution with statements referencing Gaza, Palestine, and “Zionist genocide.” Among them were prominent figures from the Workers’ Left Front, including Nicolás del Caño, Myriam Bregman, Romina Del Plá, and Néstor Pitrola.

The lawmaker, Néstor Pitrola, appeared at the podium wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh draped around his neck and declared that he swore “for an end to the Zionist genocide and a free Palestine.” Left-wing deputy Nicolás del Caño swore his oath “for the boys and girls massacred in Gaza.”

Romina Del Plá, wearing a T-shirt featuring a watermelon, stated that she swore “for Palestine’s right to exist from the river to the sea,” a phrase widely viewed by Jewish organizations in Argentina as a call for “the elimination of Israel”.

Myriam Bregman, a Jewish socialist lawmaker, swore “against the genocide in Palestine” and added an unrelated protest against U.S. policy toward Venezuela, declaring: “Yankees out of Venezuela.”

 

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“Let’s put an end to this circus,” said Sabrina Ajmechet, a Jewish lawmaker from a right-wing party. “That there are members of parliament who have taken office swearing allegiance to another territory … it’s more than just ugly, it’s problematic.”

The incident disrupted proceedings, provoked shouting on the chamber floor, and drew immediate criticism from the opposition figures. Argentina’s main Jewish umbrella organization, DAIA, issued a formal complaint, stating that phrases such as “from the river to the sea” and references to “Zionist genocide” cross from political criticism into rhetoric perceived as exclusionary or inciting. The organization warned that such language undermines social cohesion and places Argentina at odds with its own commitments to pluralism.

Lawmakers from President Javier Milei’s right-wing libertarian coalition interrupted the proceedings with boos and shouted objections, arguing that the oath is a constitutional obligation, not a platform for foreign-policy advocacy. Lila Lemoine, a member of Milei’s party, directly rebuked Bregman, stating: “You must swear for your country.”

Under current congressional rules, these remarks, while legally permitted under Argentina’s flexible oath procedures, broke with “long-standing parliamentary norms that emphasize institutional loyalty over international political messaging”.

The oath is valid as long as the legislator clearly accepts the mandate of office. However, the controversy has accelerated internal discussions about tightening procedural standards ahead of future session.

The confrontation in Congress unfolded against the backdrop of a sharp shift in Argentina’s foreign-policy posture under President Javier Milei, who has positioned his administration as unequivocally aligned with Israel. Milei has publicly framed the Gaza genocide as a “struggle against terrorism”, repeatedly condemning Hamas and emphasizing Israel’s right to self-defense. He has strengthened diplomatic and symbolic ties with Israel, including announcing plans to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem and prioritizing bilateral cooperation.

As President Milei pushes for a defined, pro-Israel foreign policy, some lawmakers are using official state moments to express support for Palestine and broader activist causes.

Rather than standing alone, the oath controversy reinforces concerns within the Milei administration that overt pro-Palestinian messaging inside Congress is undermining Argentina’s diplomatic coherence at a time when the president is actively repositioning the country’s international alliances.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.