In a dramatic political move, Prime Minister François Bayrou has suggested that France should eliminate two national holidays to address its soaring national debt. His proposal, made public on Tuesday, targets the Easter Monday and 8 May holidays, igniting criticism from the left and populist factions, while drawing cautious support from centrists and conservative allies.
The French value their public holidays highly, and the notion of working an additional two days per year without increased pay is met with resistance. Critics argue that the proposal strips away essential worker rights and overlooks the country’s cultural attachment to its jours fériés—particularly the highly anticipated long weekends in May that celebrate spring.
Despite the backlash, the Prime Minister insists that increasing productivity is essential to alleviating the crippling financial burden, which sees France's debt standing at an alarming €3.3 trillion. Interestingly, while publicly perceived as having a generous array of holidays, France has an average of 11 public holidays per year, comparable to Germany and the United States, and fewer than Slovakia's 15.
Historically, attempts to reduce holidays in France have been turbulent. In 2003, during a government initiative led by Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the Whit Monday holiday was transformed into a Day of Solidarity aimed at raising funds for the elderly and disabled. This move, however, faced significant pushback and was later diluted to a voluntary status.
The echoes of history are apparent as Bayrou's current plans spark memories of Charles de Gaulle eliminating the 8 May holiday during his presidency for fiscal reasons, only for this decision to be reversed decades later. Bayrou’s current gambit comes with the precarious context of running a minority government that could face collapse at any moment, casting doubt on the viability of his proposals.
Nevertheless, he maintains that France needs to confront its economic realities candidly. With debt accumulating at an astounding rate, Bayrou argues that it's time for a societal reevaluation of work and leisure, urging the French people to consider drastic measures in light of financial sustainability.
