Would Cutting National Holidays Be the Key to France's Financial Recovery?**

As France grapples with unprecedented debt, Prime Minister Bayrou proposes axing Easter Monday and 8 May holidays to boost productivity—a call met with mixed reactions from the public and political factions.**

In a bold move, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed cutting two national holidays—Easter Monday and 8 May—as a strategy to combat the country's escalating debt crisis. The suggestion has stirred significant controversy, with leftist and populist factions among the public voicing strong opposition while centrists offer cautious support.

In a nation renowned for its dedication to worker rights and public holidays, the idea of erasing two days off from the calendar is a deeply contentious one. Many fear that this measure would effectively force citizens to work additional days without a corresponding increase in pay, raising concerns over workers’ rights and quality of life. Furthermore, the French generally cherish their national holidays, particularly in May, when clusters of long weekends enable shared family time and leisure activities.

France, with its 11 public holidays a year, actually falls in line with the European average. Neighboring countries such as Germany and the Netherlands also observe the same number, while others like Slovakia have as many as 15. Critics of Bayrou's plan argue that it unfairly targets cherished days off in an economy marked by already high productivity levels.

Historical precedents for holiday cuts have emerged throughout France’s modern history. Notably, during a heatwave in 2003, then-Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin turned Whit Monday into a "Day of Solidarity," where earnings from that day were directed towards assisting vulnerable populations. Although the backlash was substantial, this initiative continues to yield additional funding each year, illustrating the complex relationship between productivity and time off.

Additionally, former president Charles de Gaulle once abolished the 8 May holiday in 1959, citing the country’s financial constraints at the time. However, it was reinstated in 1981, highlighting the fluctuating priorities regarding public holidays as financial contexts change.

Amid a political gridlock, Bayrou’s proposals face significant hurdles in Parliament, where he currently lacks a governing majority. Nevertheless, his remarks provoke reflection on the country’s economic framework in the face of mounting debt, estimated at €3.3 trillion, growing by €5,000 every second.

As France contemplates its fiscal future, the debate over national holidays reveals deeper questions about work-life balance, economic priority, and the cultural fabric of a nation that prides itself on its social welfare.