The far-right has crossed the line of decency in Madrid

VOX in Madrid

Argentine's President Javier Milei attends 'Europa Viva', european political event by Spanish right-wing party VOX in collaboration with ECR european group at Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid, Spain, May 19, 2024. Photo by David Cruz Sanz/Belga

Lies and insults have no place at political events ahead of the European Elections, the Party of European Socialists said after Argentinian President Javier Milei broke every rule possible during his weekend visit to Spain. Milei, who spoke at a rally of the far-right Vox party in Madrid on Sunday, called socialists “bringers of death”, praised the antidemocratic moves of all far-right leaders in Europe, and offended the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his family personally. The PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck condemned the insults via X immediately.

 PES President Stefan Löfven said:

 “The attack by Milei on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his family is undignified and totally unacceptable. The attack on socialists, whom the Argentinian president accused of “bringing death and poverty to Spain” crosses every line of decency. Death and poverty – this is what fascism brings, as Spain knows all too well.”

President Javier Milei attended the far-right rally in Madrid at the invitation of the leader of VOX Santiago Abascal. The president of France’s National Rally party Marine Le Pen, and the leader of Portugal’s Chega, Andre Ventura also attended the event. The leader of Brothers of Italy Giorgia Meloni, and FIDESZ’s Victor Orban took part via video messages.

PES common candidate Nicolas Schmit said:

“After this VOX rally in Madrid EPP should have a clearer view of the political parties it is considering as partners depending, as Ursula Von der Leyen framed it – “on the composition of the Parliament”.

We stated clearly in our Berlin declaration, that PES will never cooperate with the far-right. Let’s see what the EPP will say, witnessing Meloni, Orban, Abascal, Le Pen, Ventura, etc, joining forces ahead of the European elections. There is no decent far-right.”

In Madrid on Sunday Le Pen, Ventura, and Abascal loudly cheered all personal attacks by Javier Milei towards the socialists and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez.


Pedro Sánchez

Pedro Sánchez

Leader of PSOE and Prime Minister of Spain.

Spain