Madrid, Spain - June 21, 2024

[Note: video contains Spanish language]

This Friday morning, President Javier Milei arrived in Spain, where he was decorated by the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, despite the existing tensions between the Argentinean leader and the government of Pedro Sanchez. He then went to the Casino de Madrid to receive an award from the Juan de Mariana Institute. The Argentine president began another trip to Europe, during which he will also visit Germany and the Czech Republic.

During this trip, which the Spanish government described as "private", Milei will receive several awards from liberal associations, including the Hayek Society in Hamburg, Germany, and the Liberal Institute in Prague.

As for official meetings, the Argentine President tried to call a meeting with the King of Spain, but was unsuccessful. In the case of Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz cancelled the planned bilateral meeting between the two, although their working teams will meet. Finally, Milei will meet with the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, on the last day of his trip.

In the framework of the award ceremony to which he was invited by Diaz Ayuso, Milei once again strained the relationship with his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez. "I would like to share a quote from Mises. He says that knowledge in economics leads to liberalism. And Hayek says that if socialists understood economics they wouldn't be socialists. It seems that one of the exceptions to the rule is Pedro Sanchez, who, despite having studied economics, obviously did not understand or like the state too much to take the Spanish people with him," the president said.
And he added: "But I am hopeful that they are waking up, just as Argentina woke up".

On the other hand, he referred to the first months of his administration and said that "we are seeing the fruits because after having gone through the worst moment in the first quarter, the indicators are beginning to show positive results".

SHOTLIST:
1. Javier Milei at an event with the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Diaz Ayuso.
2. SOUNDBITE: Javier Milei, President of Argentina
"I want to share with you a quote from Mises. He says that knowledge in economics leads to liberalism. And Hayek says that if socialists understood economics they wouldn't be socialists. It seems that one of the exceptions to the rule you have with Pedro Sanchez who, evidently, despite having studied economics did not understand or likes the state too much to take the Spaniards with him."