Spain has threatened to downgrade relations with Argentina after Javier Milei called the Left-wing prime minister “tainted” by his wife’s “corruption”.
The Argentine president hit out at Pedro Sanchez at a rally of hard-Right parties organised by Vox on Sunday.
Speaking of Mr Sanchez taking five days off his official duties to reflect on his continuation as prime minister after a Madrid court opened a preliminary investigation into Begoña Gómez over alleged influence peddling and corruption, Mr Milei remarked that this showed how socialism led to “abuses” with leaders who “bolted themselves into power”.
“Even when his wife is corrupt and he is tainted, he takes five days to think about it,” Mr Milei said to cheers and applause at the Europa Viva event in Madrid.
On Monday, the Socialist Party’s Mr Sanchez demanded an apology from Mr Milei.
If he did not receive one, “response will be commensurate with the dignity of Spanish democracy and the fraternal bonds that link Spain and Argentina, currently led by a president who, sadly, has let himself down,” Mr Sanchez said.