Argentina’s president Javier Milei received on 21 October 2026 in Madrid has championed a programme of deep cuts to state spending. Speaking at a breakfast event organised by Nueva Economía Fórum in the Real Casino de Madrid he praised tax cuts, deregulation and a lean state as prerequisites for growth. In a reference to his domestic agenda, he again called the radical austerity drive “motosierra”.
The context of the remarks is clear: according to a statement from the Argentine government and the organisers, Milei highlighted the continuation of his reform agenda in Argentina and attacked high taxes and “state intervention” as obstacles to growth. He also framed the appearance as part of a trip to Europe. Spanish media picked up on his choice of words and pointed remarks, making them a focus of domestic political debate.
For the afternoon, the Community of Madrid confirmed an official meeting between Milei and regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The regional government announced that it would provide official photographs and information afterwards. No specific agreements on joint projects were announced in advance.
The political reaction in Spain was divided. Representatives of the governing parties criticised Milei’s “motosierra” rhetoric and warned against exporting radical austerity policies to Spain, particularly in relation to social security systems. Figures from the ranks of the PP and Vox voiced support for the emphasis on market-based solutions. These reactions are the views of the respective actors; they show the domestic political sensitivity of the issue, but do not point to any immediate consequences for Spanish policy.
The facts and their interpretation should be kept separate: the place, time and context of the appearance in Madrid, as well as the subsequent meeting with Isabel Díaz Ayuso, are confirmed. Milei’s key remarks on taxes, state spending and deregulation are also confirmed, as reported by official sources and the organisers and documented by Spanish media. Possible longer-term consequences for relations between Spain and Argentina, and for the policies of Spanish parties, remain uncertain; no reliable decisions on these matters had been made by the date of publication.
The appearance underlines that Milei is actively promoting his economic policies internationally. In Spain, this comes amid strong polarisation over budgetary and social policy: support comes mainly from conservative and economically liberal circles, while opposition comes from government figures and the left-wing opposition. Decisions about the direction and scope of any reforms in Spain, however, rest with national institutions and are unaffected by this guest appearance.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).