Argentina's President Javier Milei accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of being a "dictator" while on a tour of Madrid, according to La Nación. The remark came during a visit that drew wide attention in the Spanish press.
Coverage in Spain focused on the controversy, the insults and a warm embrace that also featured in the trip, La Nación reported. Another outlet, Página|12, said Milei sought photos in Madrid and was rebuffed even by candidates on the Spanish right.
In a separate interview, Milei again attacked Sánchez and the press, and said he would "die with his boots on," according to Clarín.
The episode fits a pattern noted by El País, which asked why Milei needs enemies beyond Argentina. La Nación also reported that his measures and his trip were being followed live.
The visit put the Argentine leader at the center of Spanish political coverage at a time when he is promoting his policies abroad. The reactions from Spanish right-wing candidates, as described by Página|12, suggest his message did not translate into broad support among the figures he might have expected to court.
What to watch next: whether the Spanish government responds formally to the "dictator" remark, and how the exchange affects Milei's standing in Spain.
