Caudillos invencibles: legitimación, coercióny cooptación como estrategias de reproducción de poder de los gobernadores. El caso de Gildo Insfrán (1995-2025)

Objective/context: This article analyses the strategies of political continuity employed by governors in contexts of limited pluralism, based on the case study of Gildo Insfrán, who has continuously governed the province of Formosa, Argentina, since 1995. Methodology: The research relies on a case study, a methodological strategy that enables the tracing of causal mechanisms and the understanding of complex phenomena in specific contexts. The empirical work draws on the triangulation of sources—official documents, local press, specialized literature, and electoral statistics—complemented by in-depth interviews with key provincial actors. These were selected through a snowball sampling technique, which facilitated access to relevant informants and provided diverse perspectives. Conclusions: The case of Insfrán represents an extreme example of prolonged tenure in power at the subnational level. While the absence of alternation undermines democratic quality in the province, the combination of illiberal strategies with the construction of legitimacy has consolidated a successful and enduring political leadership. The article argues that Insfrán’s continuity rests on three strategies: legitimacy, coercion, and cooptation. Legitimacy is tied to governance and the provision of public goods, securing citizen support through tangible benefits. Coercion, combined with territorial control, constitutes a fundamental pillar of gubernatorial power, though it is implemented in a low-intensity form to reduce political costs and prevent the governor from being directly perceived as responsible. Cooptation projects an image of pluralism by incorporating opposition actors, while simultaneously fragmenting and weakening the opposition. Originality: This article offers a comprehensive analysis of power maintenance in Formosa, linking approaches from comparative politics with a detailed case study. Its contribution lies in the debate on subnational democratization and alternation in closed political systems, providing a key perspective for understanding power dynamics in such contexts.