The dispute started when Spain’s Transport Minister mentioned that Argentine Javier Milei used medication throughout final yr’s elections.
Spain and Argentina have their diplomatic daggers drawn and have exchanged jibes about drug use and financial decline.
The dispute started on Friday when Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente, throughout a roundtable in Salamanca, instructed that Argentine President Javier Milei had ingested “substances” throughout final yr’s election marketing campaign.
“I noticed Milei on tv” in the course of the marketing campaign, Puente mentioned at a Socialist Occasion convention.
“I do not know if it was earlier than or after the consumption… of gear.”
He additionally included Milei amongst some “very dangerous individuals” who’ve reached excessive positions.
Milei’s workplace responded Saturday in a press release condemning the feedback and in addition attacking Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The assertion accused Sánchez of “endangering Spanish ladies by permitting unlawful immigration” and undermining Spain’s integrity by making offers with separatists, whereas his left-wing insurance policies introduced “loss of life and poverty.”
— Workplace of the President (@OPRArgentina) Could 3, 2024
Spain reacted with fury.
“The Spanish authorities categorically rejects unfounded phrases… that don’t mirror the relations between the 2 international locations and their brother peoples,” the Spanish International Ministry mentioned.
“The Authorities and the Spanish individuals will proceed to keep up and strengthen their fraternal ties and their relations of friendship and collaboration with the Argentine individuals, a want shared by all of Spanish society,” the assertion added.
The dispute happens two weeks earlier than the go to to Spain of the “anarcho-capitalist” president of Argentina.
Milei will attend an occasion for the far-right occasion Vox and keep away from assembly Spain’s socialist head of presidency, Sánchez.
The 2 have by no means had good relationships.
Sánchez supported Milei’s rival, Sergio Massa, within the elections that introduced Milei to energy in December and has additionally not been involved with Milei for the reason that victory.
In the meantime, Milei has publicly supported the Spanish anti-immigration far-right occasion Vox. The chief of Vox, Santiago Abascal, additionally traveled to Buenos Aires for Milei’s investiture.
