President Javier Milei has cancelled a proposed trip to Spain in wake of last weekend’s election defeat in Buenos aries Province.
Milei, 54, was due to depart Buenos Aires on Thursday (September 11) to attend a far-right rally in Madrid. A potential stop in Portugal had also been assessed.
The Europa Viva 2025 event, organised by the European Parliament's largest far-right group, would feature "international leaders" such as Milei, Spanish far-right party Vox said in a statement on Monday, without specifying when he would arrive or who else would be there.
However, government sources said Tuesday that the head of state will not travel in the wake of last Sunday’s provincial election defeat in Buenos Aires Province.
La Libertad Avanza finished a distant second in the key regional vote, with the opposition Peronist coalition emerging victorious by 14 points.
Milei sparked a diplomatic crisis with Spain last year after saying Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had a "corrupt wife" during a speech at a far-right convention in Madrid.
Spain eventually recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires and left the post vacant for five months over the spat.
In June, Milei called the Spanish PM a "crook" during a visit to an economic forum in the Spanish capital.
Vox said thousands are expected to attend this weekend's rally by Patriots for Europe, set to take place on September 13 and 14 at the Vistalegre Palace in Madrid.
Santiago Abascal, the outspoken leader of the Spanish far-right party, hopes to gather over 14,000 people, including leaders of the international far right.
Government sources said Milei had chosen to suspend his visit in the wake of the poor election result.
The head of state faces key national midterm elections on October 26 and has vowed to learn lessons from the provincial loss.
Milei hosted two Cabinet meetings on Monday in the wake of the defeat. On Tuesday, he met with his closest officials and leaders from his party in Buenos Aires Province, to go over the results in detail.
The head of state hopes to gather the troops again on Wednesday for further assessment.
– TIMES/NA
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