BUENOS AIRES - Argentine President Alberto Fernandez triggered a Twitter storm and a regional race debate on Wednesday with misjudged comments to visiting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez that sought to play up the South American country's ties with Europe.
"The Mexicans came from the Indians, the Brazilians came from the jungle, but we Argentines came from the ships. And they were ships that came from Europe," Fernandez said, referring to the many European migrants who arrived in the country. He later apologized for the comments and said his country's diversity was something to be proud of.
Fernandez seems to have taken the phrase from a song by local musician Lito Nebbia, of whom the President has declared himself an admirer on more than one occasion.
The comments sparked a viral response on social media, with many criticizing the center-left leader for racial insensitivity.
"I did not mean to offend anyone, in any case, whoever has felt offended or invisible, I give my apologies," he said on Twitter.
Brazilian media ran Fernandez's statements on Wednesday and many on social media joked that right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro would enjoy getting back at the leftwing Argentine leader, with whom he has not always seen eye-to-eye.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman and the Brazilian president's son, slammed the comments as "racist" and shot a retort back at Argentina over its troubled economy, in recession since 2018.
"I say the ship that is sinking is that of Argentina," he posted on Twitter.
Netizens on YouTube posted replies under a video of the speech, expressing anger or unease.
"Excuse me, Mexican and Brazilian friends, on behalf of all Argentines we feel a lot of embarrassment. You know how much we love you, and your countries and customs," said one user under the name Barbara Bongiovanni.