Argentina’s far-right President, Javier Milei, has described Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as a “dictator” and urged voters to remove the Socialist leader from power in the November 29 general election.
Milei made the remarks on Wednesday at an economic forum in Madrid, where he launched another verbal attack on Sanchez, accusing him of corruption and contributing to Spain’s decline.
He urged Spaniards to vote out the Socialists, declaring that the country was suffering under what he described as Sanchez’s dictatorial leadership.
The Spanish Prime Minister is facing mounting political pressure ahead of the election, with corruption investigations involving relatives and former senior Socialist figures.
Spain’s government spokeswoman, Elma Saiz, responded by calling for respect for Sanchez, who has defended the integrity of his administration and his party’s funding.
Opinion polls suggest the main opposition conservative Popular Party could win the most seats in the election but fall short of an outright majority, potentially making the far-right Vox party decisive in forming the next government.
During his visit, Milei is expected to meet leaders of Vox and Madrid regional President Isabel Diaz Ayuso, both critics of Sanchez. He will not meet the Spanish Prime Minister.
The latest exchange follows a diplomatic dispute in 2024, when Milei described Sanchez’s wife, Begona Gomez, as corrupt, prompting Spain to recall its ambassador to Argentina for several months.
Milei also criticised left-wing political movements across Europe, blaming them for economic stagnation and accusing them of encouraging uncontrolled immigration.
Meanwhile, Sanchez has pushed back against attacks from the political right. In a video posted on X on Wednesday, he expressed pride in being “zurdo”, a Spanish term commonly used to refer to left-wing political supporters.
His Socialist Party has also used footage of Milei in campaign materials to mobilise left-wing voters against what it describes as a growing international reactionary movement.
