Paris: In a much-anticipated speech on Tuesday, French Prime Minister François Bayrou proposed a range of measures to tackle France's exploding deficit, saying that the country's debt is increasing by £5,000 every second. "It's late but there is still time," Bayrou said, warning that France was facing a "moment of truth". Bayrou's plan includes limiting tax breaks for the wealthy and slashing civil service jobs, but it was his plan to revoke two public holidays that garnered the most headlines.
According to France24.com, the proposal has sparked widespread criticism and debate across the nation. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National party, called the proposal a "direct attack on our history, our roots, and French workers". Lionel Benharous, mayor of the town of Les Lilas, expressed concern over the dangerous recklessness of such a proposal amidst the current climate of rising racism and anti-Semitism. He highlighted the significance of May 8, a day marking victory over Nazism, as more than an economic measure but vital to democracy.
Sophie Binet, leader of the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT), emphasized the gravity of removing the national holiday status from May 8. Despite the heated reactions, some have noted that the commemoration of May 8 has a complex history. French historian Denis Peschanski pointed out that May 8 was not always a public holiday, initially meant to be commemorated on a Sunday or the following Sunday. It wasn't until 1953 that it became a public holiday to honor the Resistance movement. Various political changes over the years saw the day being scrapped and reinstated, reflecting its fluctuating significance.
Raphaël Spina, a World War II specialist, noted that France is one of only three nations officially commemorating May 8 nationwide. Many countries, including the UK and the US, do not mark it as a public holiday. The debate over public holidays also touches on Easter Monday, which Bayrou has proposed to abolish, arguing it has "no religious significance". While Easter Monday has been a public holiday since 1886, marking it in 23 of the 27 EU countries, some see it as a remnant of the Octave of Easter, while others agree with Bayrou's view.
Amidst the controversies, some observers view the debate as a political distraction. Marine Tondelier, leader of France's Green Party, suggested that the proposal is a diversion from other announced reductions in health and public services. France currently has 11 public holidays, slightly below the European Union average, with workers in EU countries benefiting from between nine and 16 public holidays, excluding those that fall on a Sunday.