France's Debt Dilemma: Can Cutting Holidays Save the Economy?**

Amid a growing national debt crisis, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed cutting two national holidays, igniting protests from various political factions while stirring a national debate over work and productivity.**

The financial challenges facing France have sparked a heated debate as Prime Minister François Bayrou suggests eliminating two national holidays in a bid to alleviate the country's substantial debt burden. His call to remove Easter Monday and the 8 May holiday has been met with considerable backlash, especially from leftist and populist groups, although some members of his own centrist party and the conservative right have expressed tentative support.

In a nation known for its strong labor traditions, the prospect of losing two statutory holidays has proven to be a contentious issue. The suggestion that workers would effectively have to put in two additional days without a bump in salary strikes many as an unfair burden, even if the move is framed as a necessary step to boost national productivity to combat the rising tide of debt.

France currently observes 11 national holidays, which is average compared to other European nations. In fact, the country has fewer holidays than Slovakia, which boasts 15, while the UK and the Netherlands have just 8. Public sentiment tends to lean towards the idea that these holidays are a well-deserved right of the workforce, allowing for much-loved long weekends, especially in May, which is marked by several public holidays.

However, the ongoing economic situation complicates the narrative. Critics of Bayrou's plan point out that the French workforce is already quite productive—18% more so than their counterparts in the UK, according to the UK’s Office for National Statistics. Furthermore, history shows attempts to change holiday structures can be met with resistance. A prior attempt in 2003 to convert Whit Monday into a Day of Solidarity generated significant controversy, although it remains in place today as a source of government funding for social programs.

Historically, this is not the first time that holidays have been cut for economic reasons; French President Charles de Gaulle notably revoked the 8 May holiday in 1959 due to fiscal constraints, a decision that was later reversed in the 1980s.

Bayrou's proposals, while perhaps well-intentioned, face substantial hurdles, particularly as he leads a government lacking a parliamentary majority. However, his candid acknowledgment of France's steep €3.3 trillion debt, which adds €5,000 each passing second, suggests that drastic measures—and equally drastic conversations—may be necessary as the country reckons with its economic reality. As the opposition remains skeptical, the ultimate fate of Bayrou's proposal appears uncertain, though it has undeniably sparked a critical discussion on the interplay between public policies and national financial health in France.