FEBRUARY 14, 2026 — The rural community of Jubileo, located in the Argentine province of Entre Ríos, officially inaugurated its first flag during ceremonies marking the town’s 119th anniversary, reports the Mercurio Noticias.
The new civic emblem, designed by Norma Van Dembruke and Norma Zermathen, was selected through a public design competition. However, the debut of the symbol has been shadowed by reports of confidentiality breaches and potential conflicts of interest within the selection process.
The competition attracted 11 proposals, a figure local officials described as significant for a small jurisdiction. According to authorities, the selection was managed through a blind jury process where designs were submitted under pseudonyms in sealed envelopes to ensure anonymity.
Despite these formal assertions of transparency, the integrity of the contest has faced public scrutiny. Culture Director Marcelo Van Dembroch confirmed a “leak of the design” prior to the official announcement, noting that one participant reportedly knew they had reached the final stage before the results were certified.
Further complications emerged when it was revealed that the winning designers included the wife of the communal chief, Hugo Orcellet. Additionally, the sister of a finalist served on the evaluating jury, raising questions regarding eligibility and partiality.
The municipal government intends to display all 11 submitted designs to the public in an effort to demonstrate procedural openness.
Image: Mercurio Noticias
