Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei called Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez a “dictator” in a visit to Madrid on Wednesday, urging voters to oust the Socialist leader in upcoming elections.
It was yet another barb by Milei against his nemesis, which drew condemnation of “external interference, attacks and insults” from the Spanish government.
“You are suffering under the disgraceful dictator Pedro Sanchez,” Milei said at an economic forum in the Spanish capital, adding: “Kick the Socialists out, because you are the cradle of liberalism.”
Sanchez has emerged as a global progressive star, notably for his clashes with US President Donald Trump and Israel, but his eight-year premiership is in peril ahead of the November 29 general election.
The main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) is predicted to win the most seats but without obtaining a majority, potentially giving far-right Vox the decisive say in forming the next government.
Milei also referred to Sanchez as a “thief” and “corrupt”, as the Spanish leader grapples with graft probes that have affected relatives and ex-Socialist heavyweights.
Sanchez has consistently defended the probity of his government and the source of his party’s funding.
The Spanish foreign ministry slammed Milei for his “external interference, attacks and insults” against Sanchez and his “call for the use of violence”.
“It is shameful that a person who holds the highest office of a sister nation makes visits to our country with the only aim of trying to foster a climate of polarisation and violence,” the ministry said in a statement.
Diplomatic crisis
The Socialists have used Milei in campaigning to rally left-wing voters against what they call a “reactionary international”, including the Argentine leader’s swingeing cuts to public spending, symbolised by a chainsaw.
Sanchez took pride from Milei’s latest attack during a campaign rally in the northern city of Burgos on Wednesday, contrasting Spain’s strong economic growth and social measures with cuts in Argentina.
“The chainsaws and cuts that the right and the far right always make when they govern build nothing, rather they destroy… They don’t make our country or our economy grow, they sink them,” Sanchez said.
Milei did not meet Sanchez during his visit — the latest of several unofficial trips to Spain which he has used to attack its leftist government and rally with the right-wing opposition.
The self-described “anarcho-capitalist” instead saw figures from Vox as well as Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the PP leader of the Madrid region who is an acerbic critic of Sanchez.
Milei hailed Vox’s leader Santiago Abascal and Ayuso as “friends” during his speech in Madrid, saying “they have sound, positive ideas for pulling Spain out of its decline”.
The firebrand libertarian also held a video call with Abascal during which they joked about the insults against Sanchez and the reaction, according to footage posted to social media.
In 2024, a diplomatic crisis erupted after Milei called Sanchez’s wife Begona Gomez “corrupt”, prompting Madrid to recall its ambassador to Argentina for months.