The Argentine Presidency struggled on Friday to justify why they defended as official a trip to Madrid that their Embassy had initially labeled as private. The Presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, stated that it was accurate for the embassy to describe the trip as private because there were no official meetings, only encounters with businessmen, academics, or cultural figures. Adorni explained that the terminology used by the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs differed, with the Ministry considering a trip official only if it involved a meeting with a Spanish official.
Adorni’s clarification contradicted the initial response given to the media. Sources close to Javier Milei, whose trip was at the center of the controversy, initially called the embassy’s labeling of the visit as private a mistake. The government’s attempt to argue that the trip was official was seen as a way to avoid criticism over the high costs of presidential travels amidst severe public spending cuts. President Milei offered another justification, stating that his visit to Spain was intended to promote investment in Argentina and save resources by combining activities, such as participating in the launch of Vox’s campaign for the European elections.
President Milei made it clear that there was no truce in his confrontation with the Spanish government, criticizing Prime Minister Sánchez as incompetent, a liar, and a coward. He accused Sánchez of interfering in Argentine politics by supporting a candidate in the previous elections. The official explanations did not satisfy the opposition, leading them to file a lawsuit against President Milei and a government official for embezzlement and defrauding the state. The opposition claimed that the President’s trip to Spain was strictly personal and had no relevance to national interests, citing the embassy’s official communication to Spain as evidence.
Critics question whether Milei’s administration is starting to resemble the government he criticized during his campaign, regarding spending and privileges. A journalist compared their actions to those of the previous government, to which Adorni responded that they were not like the Kirchnerists. The controversy surrounding the presidential trip to Spain highlights ongoing tensions between the Argentine government and the opposition, as well as between the Argentine and Spanish governments. The differing interpretations of the trip’s nature continue to fuel debate and legal challenges.
The diplomatic incident also sheds light on the challenges faced by the Argentine Presidency in managing public perception and justifying official actions. The discrepancy between the embassy’s characterization of the trip and the government’s attempt to present it as official highlights the complexity of political communication and the need for consistency in messaging. As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how the Argentine government will address the criticisms and legal action taken by the opposition, and whether President Milei’s efforts to promote investment in Argentina will outweigh the controversy surrounding the trip to Spain. Follow El PAÍS América on Facebook and X for more updates and subscribe to their weekly newsletter for the latest news.
