During his visit to Spain on Friday, Argentina’s President Javier Milei delivered a scathing denouncement of what he labeled as “satanic” socialism, highlighting his libertarian ideals in a speech about his books.
“We must not allow the dark, black, satanic, atrocious, horrible, carcinogenic side that is socialism to prevail over us,” he proclaimed.
However, Milei’s remarks drew criticism from Spanish Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz, who accused him of sowing “hatred” during a forum at her ministry.
“There aren’t many who sow hate, but they make a lot of noise and flood everything,” Diaz remarked, referencing Milei and other proponents of what she termed “governments of hate.”
Despite the rebuke, Milei refrained from directly responding to Diaz’s comments, instead emphasizing how his policies were steering Argentina towards recovery “after a decline of more than 100 years.”
As a self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” Milei’s electoral victory in November propelled him to pursue a deficit reduction agenda, marked by austerity measures including cuts to subsidies for transport, fuel, and energy, exacerbating challenges faced by wage-earners who experienced a substantial decline in purchasing power.
Milei’s visit to Spain did not include meetings with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez or King Felipe VI. Instead, he is slated to participate in a gathering of the Spanish rgith-wing party Vox, alongside leaders like France’s Marine Le Pen.
Tensions between Spain and Argentina were previously inflamed when Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente sparked controversy by insinuating that Milei was under the influence of drugs during his campaign.
Puente later apologized for his remarks, acknowledging his mistake, while Milei’s office condemned the leftist government’s socialist policies, accusing them of endangering the middle class and fostering poverty. Despite initial tensions, both sides declared the dispute resolved.