The PSOE has hung a welcome banner for Javier Milei at its Ferraz headquarters as the Argentine president visits Madrid. Pedro Sánchez responded to Milei’s use of “zurdo” by calling himself left-wing.
Milei’s Madrid schedule does not include a meeting with Pedro Sánchez. Instead, the Argentine president is due to meet figures on the Spanish right during a visit that comes ahead of Spain’s snap parliamentary election, scheduled for 29 November.
On Wednesday, 21 October, the PSOE put up a banner at its federal headquarters on Calle Ferraz in Madrid. It welcomed Milei with the message “Hola, Milei. Los zurdos y las zurdas te dan la bienvenida a España” (“Hello, Milei. Left-wing men and women welcome you to Spain”) and described Spain as “the fastest-growing country in Europe.” The campaign slogan also carried the hashtag #ZurdosYOrgullosos.
A letter in Milei’s name was designed as a chainsaw, a reference to the symbol he used during his political rise before becoming Argentina’s president in 2023. It represented his pledge to sharply reduce public spending and the size of the state, including social programmes and the administrative apparatus. By using the image, the PSOE turned the banner into a visual criticism of Milei’s economic programme as well as a welcome message.
Sánchez responded in a video using the same slogan, saying he was “a leftist and proud of it.” He said he supports annual increases to pensions and the minimum wage, and wants parents to have more time with their children. He also defended women’s right to abortion; on foreign policy, he said peace should take priority over war. The video formed part of the PSOE’s effort to set out its political identity in contrast with Milei and Spain’s right-wing opposition.
Milei arrived in Madrid on Tuesday afternoon. At Fundación Disenso, he is due to meet Vox secretary-general Ignacio Garriga. Jorge Martín Frías, who heads the foundation, is also due to meet him. Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso is expected to receive Milei later. An earlier Madrid report covered her dispute with Sánchez over teachers’ protests.
