Phoenix 24
Most counterparts will limit their vacations to two weeks.
MADRID, SPAIN — July 2026. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to take five weeks of summer vacation, the longest planned break among Europe’s principal government leaders. His institutional pause will run from July 28 through August 31. It will be his longest vacation period since taking office.
Sánchez is expected to divide his time between the official residences of Las Marismillas, near Doñana in southern Spain, and La Mareta on the island of Lanzarote. The break comes amid sustained political pressure on his government and continuing judicial investigations involving people close to him. However, the prime minister will remain reachable for urgent national and international matters.
Most major European leaders are planning significantly shorter absences. French President Emmanuel Macron expects to take between two and three weeks, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are likely to rest for no more than one or two weeks. Meloni will spend time with her family, while Merz plans to alternate between his regular home and a private residence in Bavaria.
Nordic leaders will have some of the continent’s longer breaks. Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson and Finland’s Petteri Orpo are expected to take between three and four weeks, while Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen will have approximately three. Portugal’s Luís Montenegro and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis are planning only brief pauses of about one week or several days.
Several European leaders may take no formal vacation because of political transitions, recent appointments or domestic instability. Even during declared breaks, heads of government remain responsible for responding to emergencies and major diplomatic developments. Their vacations represent reduced public activity rather than a complete suspension of executive duties.
Europe’s leaders may leave their offices—but political responsibility never fully takes a holiday.