“I insist: the people march with their leaders at the front, or with the heads of their leaders.”
-Juan Domingo Perón-
[In spanish the word used here is not “leaders” but “dirigentes,” a term that is difficult to translate directly into English. “Dirigente” does not simply mean someone who leads. It refers to a person who has the legitimacy to guide and represent a collective: the people, workers, an organization, or a movement. A “dirigente” is connected to politics and institutions, but not necessarily limited to them. Above all, it describes someone who is recognized by others as having the right to act on their behalf and defend their interests. Their authority is not only formal, but also symbolic and social.
It is not only about leadership, but about representation and responsibility toward those who follow.]
[In Spanish, both parts of the phrase use “head” (Cabeza) : first metaphorically (the leaders at the front) and then more literally, although also symbolically (carrying their heads). ]
