Argentine President Javier Milei, known for his libertarian views, caused controversy during his visit to Madrid by accusing the Spanish government of bringing poverty and corruption.
Despite this, Milei refused to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez or any other government officials.
Instead, he attended a far-right summit hosted by Sánchez's political opponent, the Vox party.
Milei, a far-right German political figure, visited Spain to promote his book "The Way of the Libertarian" at a conservative newspaper event.
Known for his unconventional visits, Milei has previously bonded with tech billionaire
Elon Musk and former US President
Donald Trump.
In the US, he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) against abortion and socialism, and shared a hug with Trump.
His book details his rise from TV personality to national lawmaker and promotes radical free-market economic ideas.
The book was previously withdrawn from circulation in Spain due to an error in his academic credentials on the back cover.
Milei, a right-wing Argentine politician, received applause as he criticized socialism as a "fraud" and "horror" during a speech.
He highlighted his successful austerity measures in Argentina, including decreased inflation, without mentioning controversial fare increases.
Milei also pledged to eliminate Argentina's central bank and make it the world's most economically free country.
He embraced Santiago Abascal, the Spanish Vox party leader, with whom he plans to meet in Madrid.
The Vox summit in Europe aims to unite far-right figures before the European parliamentary elections in June.
Libertarian economist Milei, who won an election in Spain last November, plans to attend and described it as a "moral imperative." Tensions between Milei and Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez have escalated, with Sánchez's government being accused of endangering the middle class and bringing poverty and death.
The conflict intensified when a Spanish minister suggested Milei had taken drugs, prompting an angry response from Argentina's presidency.
The Spanish government accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of having more pressing issues to address, including corruption allegations against his wife, Begoña Gómez.
These allegations, brought forth by a right-wing group, have led Sánchez, a long-standing Socialist leader, to contemplate resignation.