In the midst of the controversy stirred by Enzo Fernández and players of the Argentine National Team chanting against France, and the subsequent comment by Victoria Villarruel, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni deemed the vice president’s remarks as "unfortunate" this Friday.
Adorni confirmed that Karina Milei, Secretary General of the Presidency and sister of the President, visited the French embassy on Thursday to apologize on behalf of the government and clarify that the vice president’s statements don’t officially represent Argentina.
"Indeed, she went to explain that the unfortunate comment on social media was made in a personal capacity and that it did not reflect the government’s position of confusing sports passions with diplomatic matters," Adorni clarified in his press conference on Friday. Karina Milei was received by the French ambassador Romain Nadal, to whom she apologized for the incident.
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Lilia Lemoine Comments on Racist Chants and French National Team
"It would be more like an African team," she remarked.
The spokesperson for the libertarian administration also assured that "relations with France remain intact" and reiterated that "the vice president’s words do not reflect the government’s stance." This statement aims to ease tensions days before the first bilateral meeting between Javier Milei and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. The meeting is scheduled to take place when the libertarian leader travels to Paris for the inaugural ceremony of the Olympic Games on the 26th of this month.
Villarruel: "No Colonialist Country Will Intimidate Us Over a Song"
Villarruel had responded on Wednesday to the controversy involving the Argentine National Team’s player Enzo Fernández and a song with racist content that went viral from his Instagram account during a live session following their Copa América victory.
"Argentina is a sovereign and free country. We never had colonies or second-class citizens. We never imposed our way of life on anyone. But we will not tolerate anyone doing it to us," the vice president declared on her account on X. "Argentina was built with the sweat and courage of Indigenous people, Europeans, Creoles, and Blacks like Remedios del Valle, Sergeant Cabral, and Bernardo de Monteagudo."
She added, "No colonialist country will intimidate us over a stadium chant or by stating truths that some refuse to admit. Enough of feigning outrage, hypocrites. Enzo, I support you, Messi, thank you for everything! Argentines, always hold your heads high! Long live Argentine identity!"
RM / Gi
