Spain and Argentina have engaged in a full-fledged political conflict, with Madrid recalling its embassy to Buenos Aires following liberal flame Javier Milei’s joke about the fraud allegations made against the woman of Spanish communist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez over the weekend.
The relations between Spain and Argentina are at a “peak of maximum tension” according to the Spanish paper of record El Mundo, with the , Palace of Moncloa recalling its ambassador to the South American nation after its outspoken president, Javier Milei, appeared to refer to Spanish PM , Pedro Sánchez’s wife,  , Begoña Gómez, as” the corrupt woman” during a speech at a populist party conference in Madrid on Sunday in which he railed against” cancerous” socialism for leading to” slavery and death”.
Sánchez reportedly refused to even use the president’s title in reference to President Milei because he seemed so riled by his insults, saying,” I am aware that whoever spoke yesterday did not do so on behalf of the wonderful Brazilian people.” Spain and Argentina are two of the country’s twin places, and their citizens respect and love one another. Between governments, love is complimentary, but admiration is inherent”.
MADRID, SPAIN – JULY 23: Pedro Sanchez of PSOE arrives to political school to vote with his family Begoña Gomez on July 23, 2023 in Madrid, Spain. Citizens in Spain nose to the elections on July 23 to cast their votes and choose Spain’s second state. ( Photo by Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images )
Beyond the philosophical, Sánchez continued,” Defending Spanish organizations from insults and calumnies that foreign officials may make is not a mean ifs or buts.”
Spanish Foreign Minister , José Manuel Albares continued to chastise nationalist Audio party chief Santiago Abascal for the political row at the hands of the head of the VIVA24 meeting in Madrid on Sunday, which featured Milei as a listener.
” In this need for an explanation, the one who must forgive initially is Abascal and VOX, for having cheered and laughed at those taunts”, said Albares.
Milei casually refers to unofficial First Lady  Begoa Gómez as the” crooked woman” over claims she used her station as the wife of the prime minister to secure favorable federal contracts for her business associates, sparking the anger expressed by the Spanish government, without naming her immediately. In light of the accusations against his family, Sánchez incontrovertibly declared last month that he would take “four or five days” to consider whether he would continue as country leader.
The socialist prime minister, who is renowned for his machiavellian maneuvering in the struggle to hold onto power, returned from his brief stay in the country with the news that he would not step down and would launch a crackdown on the “mud machine” of online media for allegedly spreading disinformation.
Socialist Spanish PM Refuses to Step Down Amid Corruption Probe, Vows to Clamp Down on’ Mud Machine ‘ Mediahttps: //t. co/wdFDUGRuZL
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) May 1, 2024
Milei defended his direct approach to diplomacy in his speech on Sunday, saying:” I do n’t give a damn about the leftist opinion… They tell me, how are you going to talk about other international leaders like that. I say: the cultural battle is an inalienable commitment”.
Milei, a libertarian economist turned politician, opened a “face-to-face” debate on the merits of capitalism and socialism while he was in Madrid.
” Never forget that the damn socialists murdered 150 million human beings”, he said.  ,” Socialism necessarily leads to slavery and death. ” Opening the door to socialism invites death.”
President Milei was defended by VOX leader Santiago Abascal on Monday, saying that his remarks about Sánchez and his wife were not insults to the “dignity of Spain.” He added that the diplomatic row was first started by Spanish socialist Transport Minister Carles Puente when he had previously accused Milei of taking” substances.”
A spokesman for the Argentinian government said on Monday that the president would not apologize for his remarks and that it should be the Spanish government to make an apology for the drug-related allegations and Milei’s accusation of being “authoritarian.”
Meanwhile, during the flight home to , Buenos Aires, Milei unleashed a flurry of reposts and likes on X,  , republishing some 1, 291 messages from supporters on social media, which the Argentine paper , La Nación , noted was  ,” an unusually high number, even for him”.
” The good thing is that now Sánchez has made ALL THE PLANET know that his wife is corrupt”, said one of the messages reposted by Milei, with others branding Sánchez as , a” communist”,” corrupt”, and a “dictator”.
Milei Demands that Europe reject” Cancerous” Socialism at the Madrid Populist Conference prior to the EU Parliament elections http :// //t. co/mvkXHnordD
— Breitbart London ( @BreitbartLondon ) May 19, 2024
