French Government Plans End Two Holidays Amid Major Budget Cuts

France is facing significant fiscal challenges, prompting Prime Minister François Bayrou to propose austerity measures including scrapping two public holidays, Easter Monday and May 8, to boost national productivity and reduce the deficit by 43.8 billion euros. These holidays would remain paid but require workers to work on those days, with companies contributing part of the profits to the state, though exact details of this contribution remain undecided. Bayrou emphasized the need for equitable national effort by introducing a “solidarity contribution” tax on the richest to help manage the ballooning public debt, which could reach 100 billion euros by 2029. The proposal faces strong opposition from political rivals, trade unions, and parts of the public, who view it as an attack on French history and workers’ rights, recalling the failed 2003 attempt by former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin to alter holidays, which led to political upheaval. The far-right National Rally and left-wing parties threaten to bring down Bayrou’s government if the plans proceed, reflecting deep political divisions amid the country’s fiscal crisis. Despite criticism, Bayrou insists the austerity measures are necessary to avoid a financial collapse and to bring the deficit to 4.6% of GDP next year and 3% by 2029.