Javier Milei called Pedro Sánchez a “dictator” during his visit to Madrid

Gabriel Dumitrache

21 October 2026, 12:51

International

ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

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Argentina’s President Javier Milei attacked Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, on Tuesday, calling him a “dictator,” “thief,” and “corrupt,” during a visit to Madrid. Milei publicly expressed his support for right-wing and far-right parties ahead of the snap parliamentary elections on November 29.

At an economic forum, the ultraliberal leader from Buenos Aires accused socialism of causing poverty, a lack of prospects, and economic stagnation both in Argentina and Spain. He urged Spaniards to remove the socialists from power and criticized all left-wing groups in Europe.

Milei also attacked the Madrid government’s immigration policy, claiming that the authorities are encouraging an “invasion” of migrants for electoral reasons. He cited the enclave of Ceuta as an example and warned that economic stagnation, combined with migration policy, could lead to a decline that would be difficult to reverse.

During the visit, the Argentine president is scheduled to meet with representatives of the Vox party and Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the leader of the right in the Madrid region. In response, Pedro Sánchez posted a video on X in which he said he was proud to be “zurdo,” a term Milei uses disparagingly for left-wing activists.

Context: Even before his visit to Madrid, Milei had a history of political attacks on institutions and pressure over migration in Ceuta

Shortly beforehand, Javier Milei intensified his attacks on the international community, reiterating, from the UN podium, his criticism of the organization, which he called “useless” and accused of “feeding a caste of parasites,” including in the way it addresses artificial intelligence.

At the same time, he also provoked a diplomatic crisis with Brazil by publicly calling Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva a “thief” and “corrupt,” prompting the authorities in Brasília to recall the Argentine ambassador and summon the Argentine ambassador for an official protest.

Against the backdrop of internal tensions in Spain, Milei had previously also accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of using migrants for electoral purposes. At the same time, Madrid reported that tens of thousands of people had entered the enclave of Ceuta, most of whom were repatriated, while the Spanish government announced 72 deaths, and Rabat put the figure at 11.