President Javier Milei met this Wednesday in Madrid with Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish party Vox, in a meeting that reaffirmed their political closeness and represented a gesture of support for the right-wing leader ahead of the early general elections on November 29. The meeting took place during the Argentine president's visit to Spain to participate in the XXX Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The President's Office confirmed the meeting through a post on its social media, accompanied by a photograph of both leaders. "President Javier Milei met in Madrid with Deputy and Presidential Candidate, Santiago Abascal", stated the official communication. Although the Argentine government did not disclose details about the topics discussed, the meeting occurred amid the Spanish electoral race, in which Vox seeks to expand its representation against the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), led by Pedro Sánchez, and other political forces.
Javier Milei with Santiago Abascal.
For his part, Abascal publicly celebrated the Argentine president's visit and reiterated the relationship they maintain. "Tonight I met with my friend and ally Javier Milei, president of the Argentine Republic, to whom I expressed my gratitude for his presence at the Ibero-American Summit", wrote the Spanish leader on his X account, where he also shared the photograph released by the Presidency.
The meeting had been pending since Milei's previous visit to Madrid, which took place from October 19 to 21. On that occasion, both leaders could not meet in person as Abascal was touring various Spanish towns as part of his electoral campaign. However, they held a video call that was later shared on social media during which Milei joked with his ally: "Hey, they say you don't love me anymore".
The new meeting took place in a political context marked by the early call for elections made by Pedro Sánchez on October 5, after suffering a parliamentary setback due to the rejection of housing-related initiatives. The elections, scheduled for November 29, will determine the new composition of the Congress of Deputies and open the process for forming the next Spanish government.
Javier Milei with Isabel Díaz Ayuso in Casa Rosada.
During his day in Madrid, Milei did not participate in the inaugural ceremony of the XXX Ibero-American Summit, led by Kings Felipe VI and Letizia along with Pedro Sánchez. He also did not attend the gala dinner organized by the Spanish Crown, and his agenda did not include bilateral meetings with the socialist president or an audience with the monarch.
For this Thursday, the Argentine president is scheduled to participate in the plenary session of heads of state and government, which will take place in the Gallery of the Royal Collections. A meeting with the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a representative of the Popular Party, is also planned.
