Spain withdraws ambassador to Argentina after Milei calls PM's wife 'corrupt'

Spain has withdrawn its ambassador to Argentina in response to Argentinian president Javier Milei's attacks on Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, the minister for foreign affairs, José Manuel Albares, announced Tuesday.

The unprecedented diplomatic crisis between the two countries erupted on Sunday when Milei called Sánchez's wife, Begoña Gómez, "corrupt."

Milei made the remark at a rally in Madrid organized by the far-right party Vox and attended by Italian PM Giorgia Meloni and French National Assembly deputy Marine Le Pen.

Last month, Sánchez spent five days considering his political future after a judge in Madrid opened a corruption investigation into his wife.

The Spanish PM dismissed the accusations against Gómez as a campaign of political persecution by right-wing forces and vowed to remain in office.

However, Milei's comments have caused outrage within the Spanish government. Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares called Milei's words "unacceptable" and "very serious" and recalled the Spanish ambassador in Buenos Aires.

Albares, who did not rule out breaking off relations with Argentina, also met with the Argentinian ambassador in Madrid on Monday to urge Milei to make a public apology.

"Milei's remarks have no precedent in the history of international relations," he said, warning that if Milei did not apologize, "we will take all appropriate measures to defend our sovereignty and dignity."

But the Argentinian government responded that it was Spain that should apologize, pointing to some statements made by transport minister Óscar Puente, who suggested that Milei had used drugs during last year's election.

"They have accused [Milei] of being a hater, a denier, a drug user, an authoritarian, antidemocratic, and a really bad person. I hope they will reflect and sincerely apologize," said Argentine government spokesperson Manuel Adorni on X. 

Despite the spat, Adorni denied there was a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. "Relations between nations are more important than any differences that may exist between two people, even if they are the presidents," he said. 

But on Monday, Sánchez continued to demand an apology from Milei. The PM said Milei's words "do not represent the Argentine people" but exemplify the "risk of internationalization of the far right."

Socialists criticize opposition

The Socialist-led government criticized the conservative People's Party for not supporting Sánchez. 

"There are many appropriate moments to act as the political opposition, but there are some moments where you have to act as Spain. Sunday, in front of Javier Milei, was the moment to act as Spain," Albares said. 

The leader of the conservative People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, criticized both leaders, saying they "share a way of doing politics" that continues to "kidnap" citizens. 

"Sánchez cannot give lessons in diplomacy, given that his government began exactly what he is now denouncing," he said, referring to Puente's words. 

Santiago Abascal, the leader of far-right Vox, which organized the rally to which Milei was invited, defended the Argentinian president. 

"Spain's sovereignty and dignity have not been attacked," he said. "The Socialists are using the institutions for their own benefit."

Leaders of major Spanish companies meet with Milei

On Sunday, while Milei was in Madrid, he met with the leaders of major Spanish companies. But soon after his words against Sánchez's wife, all the business leaders distanced themselves from the controversy.

The companies that attended the meeting condemned Milei's words and defended that their meeting with Milei was strictly economic. 

They assured that the remarks "do not correspond to the diplomatic language that two friendly countries with bilateral relations should have."

Catalan company Abertis defended that "this kind of language and insults do not contribute to coexistence."

Airline Iberia said the remarks were made at a political rally "that had nothing to do with the business meeting."