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Milei EU trip: snubbed in Spain, low-key in Berlin

June 21, 2024

The Argentine president has been turned away in Spain and will hold an informal meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. Milei will instead find love among conservatives while decrying "socialism" at other venues.

https://p.dw.com/p/4hNOW
Argentine President Javier Milei (l) waves and smiles after posing for photos with Isabel Díaz Ayuso (r), the president of the region of Madrid
Milei will not meet with Spainish leaders but rather with conservatives such as Madrid's regional president, Isabel Díaz AyusoImage: Bernat Armague/picture alliance

Argentine President Javier Milei arrived in Madrid on Friday to a rock star greeting from right-wing conservatives at an event organized by the Spanish far-right VOX party.

Milei was snubbed by the Spanish government as well as the nation's royals.

Speaking at the confab, Milei railed against the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and repeated claims that Sanchez's wife Begona Gomez is corrupt.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry accused Milei of engaging in a "frontal attack on our democracy, on our institutions and Spain."

Milei has rejected calls to apologize, preferring to continue his attacks.

An award and a quick sit-down with Chancellor Scholz in Germany

The second stop on Milei's EU tour will be Germany. There, the Argentine politician will accept an award from the Friedrich Hayek Society — named for the liberal Austrian-British economist Friedrich August von Hayek.

Milei will wrap up his stay in Germany with a one-hour meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A spokesperson for the Argentine said that he requested a simple working meeting rather than one involving pomp.

Plans originally entailed a military reception and a press conference, both of which were dropped as a courtesy to the South American.

President Milei will conclude his trip to Europe with a stop in the Czech Republic.

Argentina's 'economic shock' vote sparks protests

js/lo (AFP, dpa)