The French government plans to eliminate two national public holidays beginning in 2026 as part of a sweeping effort to reduce the country’s budget deficit, Prime Minister François Bayrou announced Monday.
Easter Monday and May 8, a day that commemorates the end of World War II in Europe, would be scrapped under the proposal, which aims to save €4.2 billion ($4.6 billion) annually.
“We need to work more,” Bayrou said. “Therefore, I propose that two public holidays be removed for the country.”
The measure is part of the draft 2026 finance bill and is designed to help lower the budget deficit from a projected 4.6% of GDP in 2026 to 3% by 2029.
Under the plan, employees in both the public and private sectors would work on the two former holidays without receiving extra pay. Employers, meanwhile, would contribute financially to the state, similar to France’s existing “solidarity day” system.
In addition to the holiday cuts, the government plans to reduce 3,000 public sector jobs in 2026 and implement a hiring freeze in 2027 by replacing only two out of every three retiring civil servants. The package also includes €4 billion in projected savings on unemployment insurance by 2030.
Labor unions quickly condemned the proposal, calling it “an attack on social gains.” Union leaders have scheduled a coordination meeting for Sept. 1 to organize opposition to the reforms.
Bayrou has launched a podcast series to explain the changes and build public support amid rising tensions over work-life balance, labor rights, and France’s long-standing social protections.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.