Berliner Tageblatt - Argentina's Milei calls Spain PM Sanchez a 'dictator' in Madrid visit

It was yet another barb by Milei against his nemesis Sanchez, a global progressive star whose eight-year premiership is in peril ahead of the November 29 general election.

"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."

The main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) is predicted to win the most seats in the vote 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.

Spanish government spokeswoman Elma Saiz reacted by requesting "respect" for Sanchez, who has consistently defended the probity of his government and the source of his party's funding.

Milei will 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" will instead see figures from Vox as well as Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the PP leader of the Madrid region who is an acerbic critic of Sanchez.

"I am clearly friends with (Vox leader) Santiago Abascal and with Isabel Diaz Ayuso, and I believe they have sound, positive ideas for pulling Spain out of its decline," Milei said.

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.

The firebrand libertarian also launched a sharp attack on left-wing parties in Europe, accusing them of causing Europe's economic "stagnation" and for welcoming an "invasion" of immigrants.

More than 70,000 migrants entered Spain's north African territory of Ceuta from Morocco in July, making Sanchez the target of attacks by global right-wing figures including US President Donald Trump.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sanchez posted a short video on X in which he expressed pride in being "zurdo", a Spanish term often used pejoratively by the Argentine leader and the far right to refer to left-wing activists.

His Socialist party has used footage of Milei in campaign videos to rally left-wing voters against what it calls a "reactionary international", including the Argentine leader's swingeing cuts to public spending, symbolised by a chainsaw.

O.Bulka--BTB