Madrid : Milei traite Sánchez de « dictateur », l’Espagne dénonce une « ingérence »

Argentina’s President Javier Milei intervened directly in Spain’s upcoming legislative election campaign on Wednesday, labeling Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez an “unpresentable dictator” during a speech in Madrid. The Spanish government immediately condemned the remarks as foreign interference, stating that it was unacceptable for a head of state to visit a sister nation solely to foster polarization and violence among its citizens. Milei, who is visiting Madrid to support right-wing opposition parties ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 29, urged Spaniards to kick the socialists out of power. He described Sánchez as a thief and a corrupt leader, arguing that Spain has a debt of honor to its own liberal heritage to remove the current government. The confrontation occurred during an economic breakfast forum organized by Nueva Economia Forum at the Casino de Madrid. Milei opened his address by noting that Spain had welcomed hundreds of thousands of Argentinos fleeing misery and a lack of future under what he termed the sinister socialism of the 21st century. He identified this ideology with Kirchnerism in Argentina and claimed that Spaniards currently suffer under the rule of the “unpresentable dictator” Pedro Sánchez. The Argentine president, 55 years old, further characterized Sánchez as a criminal and a thief, stating he was unwilling to meet him because he did not want to be robbed. Instead, he declared himself a friend of Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Community of Madrid and a member of the People’s Party. Milei stated that these leaders possess healthy and positive ideas to pull Spain out of decay, adding that his commitment and love for Spain drive him to support those who will generate greater well-being for its people. In response to the speeches, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement firmly condemning the insults and slander directed at the head of government. The ministry called it indecent that a national leader would travel to Spain with the sole objective of attempting to create a climate of polarization and violence between Spaniards and between the two sister nations. Later in the day, Elma Saiz, the spokesperson for the Spanish government, demanded respect for Prime Minister Sánchez. The political fallout coincides with a period of high tension, as polls indicate that while the right-wing People’s Party leads the socialist coalition, neither side holds an absolute majority, making the far-right Vox party a potential kingmaker in parliament. Approximately 39 million Spanish voters are eligible to participate in the November vote. This marks Milei’s seventh trip to Spain since assuming office in December 2023. During previous visits, he has met with Abascal and Ayuso, but he has never met with Sánchez or any of his ministers. He has also avoided meeting King Felipe VI during these specific trips, although he has seen the monarch in other countries. Milei explained that despite having an excellent relationship with the King, various circumstances have prevented meetings in Spain. The absence of senior officials from the People’s Party and Vox at the Wednesday morning event appeared to signal discomfort within the very camps Milei sought to support. In prior incidents, such as calling Sánchez’s wife corrupt at a Vox event, diplomatic friction led to the recall of the Spanish ambassador to Buenos Aires for consultations and the appointment of a new envoy five months later. Beyond domestic politics, Milei used the platform to criticize European left-wing parties, accusing them of being primarily responsible for economic stagnation on the continent. He argued that combining economic stagnation with irresponsible migration policies creates a path of decline that is difficult to reverse. On immigration, he accused the Sánchez government of encouraging a migratory invasion for electoral gain, citing the crisis in the enclave of Ceuta last July, where tens of thousands of people arrived from Morocco. He expressed deep concern over this situation, describing it as emblematic of leftist action. Milei defended his own economic model, detailing the Regime of Incentives for Large Investments program and denying that Argentina faces a credit default problem. He invited Europeans to look south to see how far socialism can lead when taken to its ultimate consequences, warning against becoming a civilization of museums visited by others rather than one of new achievements to be conquered. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party headquarters on Calle Ferraz in Madrid displayed a large banner early Wednesday morning reacting to the visit. The sign read, “Hello, Milei. The lefties welcome you to Spain, the country that grows the most in Europe,” a jab aimed at the Argentine economist amid debates over his country's official economic data. Milei’s itinerary included planned meetings with Ayuso and representatives of Vox. His rhetoric emphasized that Spain is the cradle of liberalism, implying that supporting the current socialist government betrays that historical identity. The Spanish diplomatic corps viewed the visit as an attempt to influence the outcome of the elections, which remain highly uncertain. While Milei framed his actions as support for allies who share his ideological views, the Spanish government maintained that such involvement constitutes an improper intrusion into internal affairs. The episode highlights the intense personal animosity between the two leaders, with Milei refusing any engagement with Sánchez’s administration and instead aligning publicly with figures who oppose the current prime minister.