President Javier Milei, who is traveling in the United States, has announced on the X social network that he has split up with his girlfriend, actress and comedian Fátima Flórez.
Milei, 53, began dating Flórez, 43, eight months ago, during last year's election campaign.
The two had been seen together as recently as Wednesday, when they were photographed while leaving a synagogue in southern Florida. The head of state was honoured as an "ambassador of light" by a Jewish organisation.
Milei, who is Catholic but has expressed deep interest in Judaism, recently revealed that he had a Jewish ancestor.
In a post late Friday on X, Milei described the break up as amicable, writing that "we decided to end our relationship and maintain a bond of friendship, given how we feel about each other and how much we love, respect and admire each other."
He said Flórez had received numerous job offers in the United States and Europe and that, given the demands of his Presidency, the two had had to live separately, making a normal relationship difficult.
"As a result of the overwhelming professional success that Fátima, of whom I am extremely proud, is experiencing, she has received numerous job offers to work both in the United States and in Europe," Milei said.
"The complex task that I face today and that the Argentines have entrusted me with, has led us to live apart, making it impossible for us to have the couple's relationship that we would like to have, despite how much we love each other," he added.
There had been speculation last year that Flórez would potentially move in with Milei to the Olivos presidential residence.
Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello and Milei's sister, presidential chief-of-staff Karina Milei, are said to live at the residence.
Musk meeting
Earlier Friday, the Argentine leader met with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk at a Tesla plant in Texas. The two posed together flashing thumbs-up signs and vowed to "defend the ideas of freedom."
Milei and Musk "agreed on the need to free markets and defend the ideas of freedom" as well as the importance of eliminating bureaucratic obstacles to business, a spokesperson for the Presidency said in a statement.
The libertarian leader also offered to be an ally to Musk in his legal battle in Brazil, the spokesperson added.
X owner Musk is under investigation in Brazil after he accused a Supreme Court judge of censoring social networks, calling him a "dictator" and vowing to disobey rulings blocking users found to be spreading disinformation.
Musk agreed to take part in an event in Argentina in the near future to promote ideas of freedom, according to Milei's spokeswoman.
Milei, a political outsider who won the Presidency last November, is facing pushback on the streets and from some of his own conservative allies.
His government has rekindled debate over Argentina's military dictatorship by questioning the number of its victims, while also seeking a greater role for the armed forces in tackling ongoing security issues.
Argentina is home to deposits of lithium used for rechargeable batteries like those that power Tesla electric cars.
– TIMES/AFP
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