Officials on vacation risk appearing insensitive or indifferent if they continue to take vacations during a crisis, Politico notes
In late July, Spain faced an unprecedented “invasion” of 72,000 migrants who attempted to cross through the enclave of Ceuta.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was just a few hours away from beginning his weekly summer vacation when this crisis erupted. The Socialist leader postponed his plans and traveled to the North African coastal city, where he delivered a televised address in response to criticism from other EU leaders.
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But as soon as the emergency was deemed to be under control, Sánchez resumed his planned vacation at a state villa on the island of Lanzarote.
His decision to take time off drew criticism from opposition politicians such as Elías Bedoto, deputy secretary of the center-right People’s Party, who this week accused the prime minister of “unprecedented selfishness” for taking time off while the situation in Ceuta “is far from normal.”
“Sánchez is insulting the Spanish people by staying on vacation at the beach,” he added.
The Spanish government rejected the criticism, noting that the prime minister is not only available, but is also actively participating in remote meetings, and insisted that the state remains fully functional even when its top leaders are absent.
The government will ensure the safety of Ceuta’s residents by increasing the presence of law enforcement on the city’s streets.
In addition, we will deploy a physical barrier at sea to facilitate repatriation at the border,… pic.twitter.com/Mj2LrcoBV9
Advertisement— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 31, 2026
An Annoying Habit
As Politico notes, geopolitical crises and natural disasters have an annoying habit of rocking Europe in the middle of summer, when the bloc’s political leaders are basking in the sun or unwinding at some idyllic retreat.
While the continent’s governments have proven remarkably adept at functioning even when their leaders are on vacation, in a crisis, appearing to be present can be almost as important as actually being there.
“Emotions play an important role in communication during times of crisis,” said Olga Aizele, a researcher in crisis communication at the University of Amsterdam. “People are likely to feel insecure, anxious, perhaps angry or depressed because they’ve lost things or even loved ones, and they want those emotions to be heard by those in charge.”
Sánchez isn’t the only EU leader reluctant to let the crisis in Ceuta spoil his August vacation.
Commissioners on duty
At a time when passport-free travel has been suspended between Spain and Italy and the two prime ministers are openly criticizing each other’s policies, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appears to have embraced the quieter side of summer at an undisclosed rural location, according to Politico.
With the debate over immigration continuing this week, von der Leyen posted a video on Instagram—asking for name suggestions for two chicks hatched by her hen, Chickeletta.
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“While family time is important, she always closely monitors all critical issues, remains fully committed, and intervenes immediately whenever necessary,” the spokesperson added, emphasizing that the Commission President was closely monitoring developments in Ceuta and was in “daily contact” with the three commissioners involved in the immediate response to the crisis.
The spokesperson also emphasized that the Commission remains “fully functional” throughout the summer, with “commissioners on duty” appointed to ensure that a member of the Commission is available during periods when Brussels becomes a ghost town.
Similarly, some national governments, such as Finland’s, publicly announce when ministers are on summer vacation and which of their deputies are handling their portfolios.
“What matters from a crisis management perspective is that the relevant authorities be able to make quick decisions, mobilize the necessary resources, and coordinate the response,” said a separate Commission spokesperson.
But even when mechanisms are in place to ensure that governments have the capacity to manage dramatic situations, officials who are on vacation risk appearing insensitive or indifferent if they continue to take time off during a crisis, Politico notes.
The Political Context
In 2022, the Environment Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Ursula Heinen-Esser, was forced to resign after it was revealed that she had resumed her vacation in Mallorca, just a few days after the devastating floods that killed more than 180 people in western Germany the previous year. Germany’s Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Anna Spiegel, also resigned due to the backlash caused by a four-day vacation in France following the disaster.
Evangelia Petridou, an expert in crisis management and professor of political science at Mid Sweden University, stated that various factors shape the intensity of the reaction to the absence of a leader during a crisis. “Whether the opposition capitalizes on the situation, whether it is a majority or minority government, and whether there is an institution in place to manage the crisis that can defuse the tension away from the individual minister or public official,” all of which can have an impact.
Another factor is the time of year, said Olga Aizele, a researcher in crisis communication at the University of Amsterdam.
“If leaders are on vacation, then it’s usually a period when not much else is happening—in Germany, we call this the ‘Sommerloch,’” said Eisel, explaining that the absence of major news stories can turn an otherwise ordinary absence into a political drama.
She added that while the physical presence of a public official is preferable, “reassurance can also come from a distance” if the public is ultimately convinced that the situation is being handled adequately.
The Different Impact and Disruptions in Crete
Senior British military officials accused then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson of “dereliction of duty” for his decision to leave for a vacation in Somerset as Taliban forces were advancing to take Kabul in August 2021.
His Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, faced even greater criticism for remaining on vacation in Crete until after the fall of the Afghan capital, at a time when British forces were frantically trying to evacuate civilians.
Although he was also on vacation when the Taliban seized Kabul, French President Emmanuel Macron did not face similar criticism. From Fort de Brégançon, the seaside retreat traditionally used by the French head of state, he delivered a televised address to the nation that reinforced the perception that his government was handling the situation and doing everything it could to bring citizens back home.
Fear of backlash leads many leaders to cancel their vacations in the midst of crises. Keir Starmer canceled a family vacation in August 2024 as far-right riots spread across England, and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro refused to take time off as wildfires ravaged his country last year.
However, the data suggest that Europeans do not necessarily expect their leaders to sacrifice their time at the first sign of trouble.
What Public Opinion Says
An Ipsos poll in July 2025 found that 46% of Britons thought it was important for the prime minister to take time off, while 44% believed that the head of government should take about as much time off as the average worker. More than three-quarters—78%—said it was important for the prime minister to be easily reachable during his absence.
Politicians across Europe may also face less pressure to sacrifice their vacations, given a work culture in which vacation time is widely regarded as a right.
Data from the International Labor Organization show that Europeans are entitled to more paid annual leave than workers anywhere else in the world, and surveys such as Eurofound’s annual European Working Conditions Survey show that EU citizens particularly value work-life balance.
For this reason, Olga Aizele of the University of Amsterdam stated that the reaction to absences during the holidays is usually linked to broader image issues.
“If the leader has strong support, then failing to appear immediately can be forgiven,” she said.
But if that official is already facing popularity problems, “crises are usually an excellent opportunity to question a political leader’s competence.”
Source: in.gr
