Amid diplomatic crisis, Argentina’s president in Spain to pick up award

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - In the middle of a diplomatic crisis between Spain and Argentina, Argentine President Javier Milei will arrive in the Spanish capital on Friday to pick up the International Medal of the Community of Madrid.

The conservative president of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, decided to grant Milei the public award, weeks after he insulted Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez.

“It is an honor for us to receive the legitimate president, who, in his case, was elected by a large majority of Argetinian voters,” said Ayuso, justifying her decision in the Madrid regional parliament on Thursday.

In May, Argentina’s libertarian leader traveled to Spain to speak at a far-right conference hosted by the party Vox. There, in a fiery speech, he referred to Sanchez’s wife as “corrupt” and attacked Spain’s Socialist-led government as “carcinogenic.”

The Spanish government demanded a public apology. But instead, Milei doubled down on his insults, boasting that he returned to Argentina “surfing on the waves of socialist tears” and calling Sanchez a “coward.”

In response, Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador to Argentina.

Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Milei’s comments were “unprecedented in the history of international relations” and against diplomatic decorum.

“We welcomed Javier Milei in Madrid in good faith to participate in a far-right political act ... But despite this hospitality, he responded with a frontal attack on our democracy, our institutions and Spain,” he said at the time.

Now, Spain’s government is calling the Popular Party leader of Madrid’s move to grant him an award a betrayal.

“We can all see Ayuso’s concept of institutionality, loyalty and patriotism, awarding a medal to someone who insults Spanish institutions,” said government spokesperson Pilar Alegria on Friday, slamming the Madrid president for not informing the Foreign Ministry of the visit.

Spanish daily El Pais reported that Milei also requested a meeting with Spanish King Felipe VI, who rejected his request.

The head of Spain’s Popular Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, will not attend the award ceremony.