15-07-2025
Minister is keen to cut two bank holidays – which ones and why
France 's Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, has proposed eliminating two public holidays, potentially including Easter Monday and Allied victory day, to generate savings for the 2026 budget.
This controversial measure is part of a broader fiscal plan aiming to achieve an estimated €44 billion in overall savings to address France's substantial debt and deficit.
Mr Bayrou argues that scrapping holidays would boost economic activity and tax revenues, aligning with President Emmanuel Macron 's directive to repair public finances.
Easter Monday and Victory Day were among the holidays discussed
The proposals face significant opposition from unions and the far-right National Rally, complicating their passage through a hung parliament where Macron's centrist grouping lacks a majority.
