At Christmas, not only the King of Spain addresses citizens in his Christmas Eve message. Political leaders also take advantage of the most familiar holidays to to enter in the homes of their fellow citizens with messages that mix institutionality, hope for the future and traditions… each in their own style.
An unexpected pattern has emerged in the 2025 messages when comparing those of four prime ministers as disparate as Giorgia Meloni, Keir Starmer, Friedrich Merz y Benjamin Netanyahu with that of Pedro Sanchez.
While the former explicitly claim Christian values, the Spanish president chose a radically opposite argument. Sánchez avoids mentioning “Christmas” explicitly and appeals to “the holidays” in such a plural and inclusive way that it blurs the celebration.
And above all, it contrasts with Italian extreme right-wing politics, British Labor, German Christian Democrats and Israeli nationalist politics.
Meloni opens his message with inclusion: “To those who live Christmas with their family, to those who celebrate it by working…”although it immediately pivots towards a defense of Christian symbols. “I want to do it in front of the symbol that more than any other reminds us what Holy Christmas is,” he says in front of a nativity scene.
“The manger does not impose anything on anyone“, develops to claim the nativity scene as liberating. “The nativity scene tells a story, preserves values, deepens the roots,” affirms the Italian Prime Minister. “Believe it or not, this symbol speaks of dignityof responsibility, of respect for life, of attention to the most vulnerable”.
In the United Kingdom, Starmer stages his Christmas Eve dinner, receiving social workers, public officials and migrants at 10 Downing Street.
This Christmas, a lot of people will be working hard to keep our country safe, often away from their families.
We invited public sector workers to Downing Street for an early Christmas dinner to say thank you. pic.twitter.com/D9Kf8wK9WX
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 22, 2025
“From my family to yours, I wish you a very merry Christmas“, begins the Labor premier. His next sentence makes the substance clear: “This is a moment for celebrate the birth of Jesus Christthe Christmas story and christian values that define it.”
Starmer unites religion and community solidarity by emphasizing that “just when so many are settling, some really special people They will put on their uniforms and go out to work.” And then he links values and action: “Many volunteers will also be out there. Serving food for help those who are alone or in need“.
Its closing is a pure Christmas message: “At this time of year, which celebrate love and abundancecall a neighbor. Reach out to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken to in a while. Come closer. That’s what Christmas is about“.
From Berlin, Merz takes a more institutional but equally clear route. “On these dates It’s about peace, security and prosperity of our entire continent,” says the German Chancellor. “In that spirit, we feel committed to Germany and to Europe. It’s up to us“.
But the chancellor reconciles solemnity with hope. “We need patience and a lasting spirit, and the daily strength to continue making the best decisions for our country,” he maintains. “I wish you all a Merry Christmas and may these days bring you peace, calm and the strength to look to the future with confidence.”
But the most surprising video, the one that most contrasts with Sánchez’s, is Netanyahu’s.
As if both leaders could not help but be opposites in everything, the premier Israeli, whose faith is Jewish, celebrates this Christian holiday more than the Spanish. “From Jerusalem I send warm greetings to our Christian friends around the world. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year“, starts.
“From here, the Holy Land, Israel, the only country in the Middle East where Christians can proudly celebrate their traditions and do it openly without any fear,” he says. “Where Christian pilgrims are welcomed with open arms and so deeply appreciated.”
Netanyahu cannot help but take the opportunity to criticize the persecutions based on religion that his people have suffered so much in history, although this time he does so by remembering the attacks in Nigeria, Iraq and Syria… and citing that “The birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, had an 80% Christian population when [los israelíes] we were there. When we left and gave it to the Palestinian Authority, since then has been reduced to 20%“.
Neutral and evasive
In contrast, Pedro Sánchez seeks to be so inclusive and neutral that he is evasive regarding a central holiday for Christian culture in Spain. Your message avoid the word “Christmas” and appeals to “the holidays” as an open and inclusive category. The president highlights coexistence and diversity.
Thank those who facilitate celebrations “calm, safe” and happythe only point on which he explicitly agrees with the other prime ministers cited.
But the Spanish socialist leader deliberately avoids anchoring his speech in religious traditions. It does highlight the “coexistence”, diversity and cultural plurality from Spain.
This gap is not accidental, although it brings together, on the one hand, politicians with disparate political positions: the conservative, the labor, the Christian democrat and the nationalist, and contrasts with Sánchez’s explicit option for a secular approach.
Meloni, Starmer, Merz and Netanyahu explicitly claim Christian values as inclusive, identifying Christmas as celebration of peace, traditional values and shared security.
Sánchez, for his part, takes this concept from the roots of the celebration by wishing “the best for everyone” from a perspective of social well-being and cultural diversity, highlighting the possibility of “celebrating in many ways.”