Madrid (EFE).- Argentine President Javier Milei stepped into the pre-election campaign for Spain’s Nov. 29 elections on Wednesday during a visit to Madrid, calling Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez an «unpresentable dictator,» reiterating that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina, and refused to confirm his attendance at the upcoming Ibero-American Summit on Nov. 4-5.
With just over a month before Spain’s snap general elections, Milei framed himself as a «friend» of Madrid Regional President Isabel Díaz Ayuso (People’s Party), a prominent opponent of Sánchez whom he will meet Wednesday afternoon, as well as Vox far-right party leader Santiago Abascal.
The Argentine leader will also meet with Vox Secretary General Ignacio Garriga and Jorge Martín Frías, director of the Disenso Foundation, a think tank affiliated with the far-right party.
Milei also delivered a lecture at the Rey Juan Carlos Public University in Madrid, where hundreds of students gathered to protest his presence behind a heavy police cordon.
«Zurdos» reclaim the narrative
Milei frequently uses the term «zurdo» (leftie) to attack the political left. Early in the morning, the Socialist Party (PSOE) hung a banner across the facade of its Madrid headquarters on Ferraz Street featuring an ironic message: «Hello Milei. The lefties welcome you to Spain, Europe’s fastest-growing economy.»
The hashtag «Proud Lefties» began circulating among Socialist activists, and in a social media video, Prime Minister Sánchez stated that if being a «leftie» means raising the minimum wage, protecting pensions, and defending abortion rights, then he is one «with great pride.»
The aforementioned unfolded shortly before Milei began his official agenda with an informational breakfast, during which he labeled Sánchez an «unpresentable dictator» and urged voters to «kick out» the Socialists.
He also referred to the surge of over 80,000 migrants who entered the North African enclave of Ceuta on the Moroccan border in July, claiming that events there are «emblematic of how the left operates,» and accusing the Socialists of encouraging an «invasion» for political gain.
A Friend to Ayuso and Abascal
In stark contrast to his attacks on the left, the Argentine president praised Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Santiago Abascal as leaders with «healthy, positive ideas to rescue Spain from decline.»
In recent campaign rallies, Spain’s prime minister warned against the spending cuts and «chainsaw approach» advocated by Milei, while Abascal cautioned against relying on simple slogans. In Abascal’s view, the chainsaw policy «probably falls short» in some areas while being «excessive» in others.
According to sources at Zarzuela Palace, the Argentine government communicated Milei’s interest in meeting King Felipe VI. The Royal Household responded by noting Spain’s standard protocol requiring an official meeting with the head of state to be accompanied by a meeting with the prime minister.
Since taking office in late 2023, Milei has traveled to Spain seven times, including his current trip, without meeting with Sánchez once.
Milei leaves attendance at Ibero-American Summit uncertain
Furthermore, Milei did not confirm whether he will attend the upcoming Ibero-American Summit scheduled to take place in Madrid on Nov. 4–5, stating that he is currently assessing the matter with Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.
«I am evaluating with the foreign minister whether we will be able to attend or not,» the president said during the breakfast event.
During the same appearance, Milei asserted that the Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas) «belong to Argentina by right, history, and geography,» adding that his country aims to recover them through diplomatic channels, as he does not believe in «military solutions.»
He also defended his administration’s alliance with the United States, arguing that it does not prevent Argentina from maintaining commercial relations with China.
«Why shouldn’t we trade with China when the US itself does, and in fact considers China one of its most important trading partners?» Milei questioned.
Spanish Government response
Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the «insults and slanders» directed by Milei toward Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The Foreign Ministry called it «disgraceful» for the Argentine president to visit Spain with the intention of fostering polarization and hostility between sister nations and among Spanish citizens.
Officials from the Moncloa Prime Minister’s Office emphasized that Spain is a sovereign nation that will not tolerate personal attacks, insults, or external interference targeting its head of government or democratically elected institutions.
They further warned that they will not allow anyone to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of Spanish society, framing the incident within a broader pattern of recurring diplomatic friction since Milei assumed power. EFE
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