Now that no one writes letters anymore, Pedro Sánchez has opted for that format to announce that he is giving himself until Monday to decide whether to resign. Being the president, he could give an interview or read a statement, but he chooses to write a letter with rather cryptic content that raises multiple questions, because of what it says but also about the communication strategy: why a text was written and to whom it is addressed. In fact.
“The written text conveys significance and at the same time allows us to hide weaknesses that would be revealed in a video, for example anger,” emphasizes Carles Pont, professor at the Faculty of Communication at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF). That's right, in a video, the gesticulation and the rest of the elements of non-verbal communication would have revealed a state of mind that perhaps Sánchez did not want to convey. No matter how much he wanted to control the gestures, they end up manifesting themselves.
At the same time, Pont emphasizes, a letter allows you to expand and keep the attention of the recipient, something that perhaps a video would not have achieved. Which leads to the next question: to whom is the letter that Sánchez addresses “to the citizens” intended. For this communication expert, the issue is clear: it is not aimed at everyone, but rather seeks to strike a chord with a segment that in the language of public opinion is known as the attentive public, that is, those who are informed. and they have an interest in politics and sometimes act in politics, the media, perhaps intellectuals, business sectors.
Political scientist and sociologist Marta Marcos also emphasizes that "it is not trivial that he chose a letter and not any other means," since it responds to a question of immediacy and unilaterality. "In all likelihood, very few people around him were aware of their intentions until they received the news," he emphasizes. Regarding the citizens, Marcos values that "it intends to be a blow to the table to express that there are red lines for him, ensuring the support of his people at a critical moment."
Jesús Palomar, professor of Political Science at the University of Barcelona, agrees. “This letter makes me think that Sánchez is looking for a citizen reaction, popular validation.” For this reason, in addition, he spreads his text on his social networks and does not appear at the Moncloa or at the PSOE headquarters, he emphasizes, to take the issue to the personal, not institutional, level.
Broadly speaking, the president denounces in his writing a strategy of harassment directed against his wife, Begoña Gómez, and points out those responsible. At the same time, he declares himself in love with her and assures that he has no “attachment to the position.” Palomar ventures his thesis: "It shows that red lines have been crossed, it is a warning, my opinion is that he will not resign."
For Pont, however, this letter would be justified if Sánchez is going to resign on Monday and gives the party these days to reorganize and look for a candidate for the investiture. If there is a crisis behind the president's announcement, he should explain now, not speculate. “From minute zero because everything ends up being known and it is worse,” he states.
Marcos is clear: “It would not be at all ruled out if his resignation were a reality in the coming days,” a decision that he would have reflected on for a long time and due to various issues that have ended up cornering him, he emphasizes. In this way, Sánchez would ensure his integrity and the future of the party before leaving office. “In any case, we would sin by ending, politically, someone who knew how to surprise us so many times,” he assures.
