Zarzuela blocks Milei's meeting with Felipe VI during Madrid visit

Argentine President Javier Milei sought a meeting with King Felipe VI during his trip to Madrid, but the Royal Household reminded him that protocol requires including a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, according to the Infobae portal.

In Spain, the political system is a parliamentary monarchy in which the king serves as head of state in a neutral, representative role, while the direction of domestic and foreign policy rests with the head of government and his Cabinet. For this reason, the monarch's institutional schedule is closely coordinated with the government to avoid unilateral encounters that could upset diplomatic relations.

The Argentine leader's interest was conveyed informally to the Zarzuela Palace without a formal request for an audience being submitted. Faced with the refusal to hold a meeting with Sánchez, whom Milei has criticized harshly on several occasions, the Royal Household maintained its protocol position and left the meeting with the monarch off the agenda.

During his stay in the Spanish capital, the Argentine president's agenda included an event at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, a meeting with the Disenso Foundation and a meeting with the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso. The visit proceeded without any contact with members of the central government.