In a gesture with a strong federal imprint, the Vice President of Argentina, Victoria Villarruel, arrived this Saturday in the province of La Rioja to participate in the emblematic Chaya 2026 festival. Her visit, marked by a balance between the political agenda and cultural tradition, represents her first official arrival in the Riojan capital, adding another milestone to her tour through Argentina's interior provinces. Despite the known ideological differences between the central administration and the provincial executive, the day was marked by institutional courtesy. «They have to throw flour at me, they have to give me basil… tonight we are going to chaya,» she commented with laughter to the citizens. The vice president's agenda for the rest of the long weekend will include: Visits to various wineries to learn about the local productive engine. A tour of Talampaya National Park, a jewel of Rioja's natural heritage. In the strictly political-technical sphere, the vice president briefly referred to the debate on the project to lower the age of criminal responsibility. The head of the Senate was received at the Government House by Governor Ricardo Quintela, who was accompanied by Vice Governor Teresita Madera and the capital's mayor, Armando Molina. The welcoming delegation also included key figures from the legislative sphere, such as national senators Fernando Rejal and María Florencia López, along with national deputy Sergio Casas, who extended the formal invitation for the official to join the popular celebrations. «The objective is for them to feel that we are thinking of them, to know that we have them present there in Buenos Aires,» expressed Villarruel as she made contact with the neighbors, reinforcing a message of closeness and national belonging. Before immersing herself in the festive atmosphere, the vice president held a relevant pastoral meeting with the local bishop, Monsignor Dante Braida. With visible enthusiasm, Villarruel showed herself willing to comply with the region's ancestral rites: «I come with all the curiosity».
