Spain recalls ambassador from Argentina as feud with Mila deepens

A war of words has broken out between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Argentine President Javier Miley. Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Spain recalled its ambassador from Argentina permanently after President Javier Miley called his counterpart in Madrid “totalitarian” and “arrogant.”

The move was the latest twist in deepening diplomatic crisis between the two countries triggered by Miley's call Pedro Sanchez's wife is corrupt.

The row began on Sunday when Mr Miley used a speech at a rally of far-right leaders in Madrid to attack Mr Sanchez and his Socialist-led coalition government criticized the Spanish prime minister. for not resigning due to corruption allegations against his wife Begoña Gomez.

Charges of influence peddling and corruption are being considered by a Madrid court, although Spanish prosecutors and police investigators have said there is no case against Ms. Gomez.

Argentina's president criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not resigning over corruption allegations against his wife Begoña Gómez. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images

On Tuesday, José Manuel Albarez, Spain's foreign minister, announced that Maria Jesús Alonso, the country's ambassador to Argentina, would «definitely remain in Madrid» after being recalled the previous day for consultations.

Mr. immediately reacted to Madrid's move, calling it «stupidity, typical of an arrogant socialist.»

«He is so arrogant that when faced with a personal problem, in a phrase that has no name, he felt attacked by it hint, so the problem belongs to Mr. Pedro Sanchez. From this position, he created an absolutely absurd diplomatic escalation.

“Does he think he is the state? It's very totalitarian, it's very socialist,” Mr. Miley continued.

Mr. Miley, a libertarian, claims he is the victim of an assassination by Mr. Sanchez's government, which he says never congratulated him on his victory. presidency last November.

He accused Sánchez of colluding with the Argentine opposition Peronist faction, represented by previous Argentine leaders Alberto Fernandez and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

Libertarian Miley claims he was the victim of assassination by the Sanchez government. Photo: Juan Najarro Jimenez/Getty Images

The war of words between Madrid and Buenos Aires began earlier this month when Oscar Puente, Spain's transport minister and a close ally of Mr. Sanchez, joked that Mr. Miley » takes drugs,» although he later said he regretted his comment.

Mr Sánchez criticized his main political rival in Spain, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), for a lack of “patriotism” in his “equidistant” response to Mr Miley’s remarks.

The PP said its mission was to oppose the Sánchez government, which it accused of deliberately stoking the crisis to gain political capital ahead of the June European elections.

“Sánchez's electoral interests are no more important than Spain's in Argentina » Mr. Feijoo said, condemning Mr. Miley's behavior.

Several Spanish companies, including Santander, criticized Mr. Miley's verbal antics hours after meeting him in Madrid over the weekend . . Investments by Spanish firms in the country are estimated at 18 billion euros.

In 2012, Argentina nationalized the YPF subsidiary of Spanish oil giant Repsol and then paid the company 5 billion euros in compensation.