**France's National Holidays: A Proposal to Ditch Two for Financial Stability**

**The French government faces backlash as Prime Minister François Bayrou proposes eliminating two national holidays to boost productivity and address the country's escalating debt.**

 

In a bold and controversial move, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has sparked intense debate by proposing to eliminate two national holidays—Easter Monday and May 8th—in a bid to tackle the country's soaring debt. The suggestion, made public on Tuesday, was met with immediate resistance from leftist factions, while centrists and conservative allies expressed cautious support.

In France, which boasts an extensive tradition of worker activism, the prospect of losing two cherished public holidays is an uphill battle. The proposal implies that workers would have to forfeit two days off each year without a corresponding increase in pay, a concept that many are critical of, viewing it as a direct affront to their valued time away from work. Bayrou's argument centers on increased productivity as a pathway out of France's growing fiscal crisis.

Despite common perceptions, the French actually enjoy fewer national holidays compared to the European average, with 11 days alongside countries like Germany and the Netherlands. Public holidays are not simply days off; they often connect to historical significance, such as May 8th, commemorating the end of World War II. Removing two of these days would likely mean fewer long weekends and transformation of cherished traditions, particularly during the spring.

Historical context also indicates this isn't the first time such a proposal has surfaced in France. Past attempts, such as the shift in 2003 where Whit Monday was converted into a Day of Solidarity, faced public outrage. That initiative, while initially successful in generating funds for the less fortunate, became voluntary and its implementation remains vague even today.

Economic pressure continues to mount, with France's national debt currently standing at an alarming €3.3 trillion, escalating at a rate of €5,000 every second. Bayrou's push for holiday reductions comes in light of the dire financial landscape, where radical rethinking about work-life balance seems imperative. However, the Prime Minister's lack of parliamentary majority places his proposals in jeopardy, sparking discussions not only about the economy but how citizens perceive their work and leisure.