Milei calls Sánchez an “unpresentable dictator” during visit to Spain

The President of Argentina, Javier Milei, described the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, as an “unpresentable dictator” this Wednesday during an informative breakfast held in Madrid. Milei’s statements against Sánchez were accompanied by criticisms of socialism and a call to remove the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) from power.

The statements were made during a meeting organized by Nueva Economía Fórum, at the Casino de Madrid, where the Argentine president addressed the historical relations between both countries, immigration, and his government’s economic policies.

Milei recalled that Argentina received millions of Spaniards who emigrated during the last century and highlighted that, in recent decades, Spain has become a destination for numerous Argentines seeking better opportunities.

In that context, he blamed Kirchnerism for his country’s economic difficulties and linked that political movement to Sánchez’s government, which he associated with the so-called 21st-century socialism.

“Spain has known how to welcome hundreds of thousands of Argentines who escaped from misery and the lack of a future, the result of the sinister 21st-century socialism,” the leader expressed before referring to the Spanish president as a “disreputable dictator.”

Milei Sánchez: no meeting

During his speech, the Argentine head of state intensified his criticism against the Spanish Executive and maintained that citizens must “kick the socialists out” of the Government, considering that their policies harm economic development and individual freedoms.

When questioned about the reasons why he has not held meetings with Sánchez during his visits to Spain, Milei ruled out meeting with him and called him a “thieving criminal,” an accusation he did not support with evidence.

The Argentine president also defended his public spending reduction program, questioned taxes, and reiterated that state intervention limits economic activity.

Milei’s statements against Sánchez occur in a context of ideological differences between both leaders, whose relationship has been marked by public clashes since the Argentine president came to power in December 2023.

Milei Sánchez: political tensions

During his stay in Madrid, Milei expressed his closeness to Santiago Abascal, leader of the Vox party, and to Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, to whom he attributed political approaches that he considers favorable for the future of Spain.

Although he planned to meet with Díaz Ayuso, his agenda did not include a meeting with Abascal, who carries out political activities in other Spanish regions.

The president also took advantage of his participation in the forum to promote investment opportunities in Argentina and assured that the reforms promoted by his Government seek to create favorable conditions to attract foreign capital.

This is Milei’s seventh visit to Spain since he assumed the Presidency, without a bilateral meeting having been held with Pedro Sánchez so far.

The trip also takes place in the run-up to the 2027 Argentine presidential elections, in which the incumbent seeks reelection.