The ultra-liberal Argentinian President Javier Milei has received a euphoric reception in Madrid at an election rally organised by the Spanish right-wing populists party Vox for the European elections.
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Milei addressed around 11,000 participants from Europe, the US and Latin America during the Europa Viva 24 rally.
"We must say "no more to damned and cancerous socialism," he said.
Socialism leads "to slavery or death," social justice is "always unjust," shouted the guest speaker, who describes himself as an "anarcho-capitalist."
Milei also stirred controversy by accusing the socialist government of bringing "poverty and death" to Spain and commenting on corruption allegations against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife.
He had called Sanchez's wife Begona Gomez "corrupt"
This unorthodox visit is business as usual for Milei, a favourite of the global far-right who has bonded with tech billionaire Elon Musk and praised by Donald Trump.
Milei was celebrated like a "rock star," in the Palacio de Vistalegre according to the newspaper El Mundo and other media.
Among the participants were numerous right-wing populist and national conservative politicians from abroad, including Marine Le Pen of France's far-right National Rally, the Portuguese Andre Ventura, the Chilean Jose Antonio Kast and also the Israeli Minister for Social Equality Amichai Chikli.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni joined in with a speech via video link and was also loudly celebrated.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban sent a message in which he described the elections to the European Parliament set for June 6 - June 9 as "a great common fight" against a Europe that promotes "mass illegal migration" and "poisons our children with gender propaganda."
Milei's criticism of Gomez triggered a diplomatic row.
He did not mention Gomez by name, but the allusion was clear. The Spanish government's response was to recall its ambassador in Buenos Aires to Madrid for "an indefinite period."
Announcing the measure, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares spoke of a "frontal attack on our democracy, on our institutions and on Spain."
"It is unacceptable for a sitting president to insult Spain and the Spanish prime minister during a visit to Spain," Albares said.
Gomez, who does not hold public office, has been recently accused of influence peddling and business corruption by the right-wing Manos Limpias (Clean Hands) organisation, which later acknowledged the allegations were based on media reports that could be false.
Sanchez unexpectedly said he was considering stepping down after nearly six years, owing to what he characterised as baseless claims made against his wife, but eventually said he would remain in office.
The public prosecutor's office in Madrid in late April requested that a preliminary investigation into Gomez, 49, be dropped.
with Reuters
Australian Associated Press
