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07/26/24 04:12:00
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07/26 16:10 CDT In President Milei's sit-down with Macron, Argentina says the
leaders get past soccer chant fallout
In President Milei's sit-down with Macron, Argentina says the leaders get past
soccer chant fallout
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) --- Argentine President Javier Milei and French
President Emmanuel Macron met Friday in Paris where they appeared to put aside
recent controversy stemming from their countries' fierce soccer rivalry.
The meeting comes after a video clip spread online showing the Argentine
national soccer team's post-match racist chants, prompting backlash from French
officials over lyrics considered offensive toward French players of African
descent.
The song originated from fans' chants ahead of Argentina's 2022 World Cup final
against France in Qatar, and resurfaced after the Argentina team's Copa America
triumph over Colombia.
Exacerbating matters, Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel rushed to
the defense of the Argentina players recorded singing the derogatory chants and
publicly lambasted the French government as hypocritical for its criticism of
Argentina.
The Argentine presidency said that Macron expressed gratitude Friday for
efforts by Milei's sister and general secretary of the presidency, Karina
Milei, to defuse the diplomatic crisis by apologizing at the French embassy for
Villarruel's remarks.
Macron thanked Karina Milei "directly and especially for her words," the
Argentine presidency said. The French government did not immediately provide
its own read-out of the leaders' meeting.
Milei's office seemed eager to show that the leaders had moved past the crisis,
saying their talks Friday ahead of the Olympics opening reflected the
"excellent state of the relationship between France and Argentina and, more
specifically, between both presidents." The talks ranged from Argentina's
attempts to secure another cash lifeline from the International Monetary Fund
to Sunday's presidential elections in Venezuela, the statement said.
Milei's office also said that Macron congratulated him for his market-oriented
reforms that have succeeded in slashing the state's fiscal defici t. The
reforms also have pummeled Argentines struggling to cope with 270% annual
inflation and deepening poverty.
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