French Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed eliminating two public holidays—Easter Monday and May 8th—as part of a sweeping 2026 budget plan aimed at reducing government spending while increasing defence funding.
In his announcement, Bayrou argued that the abundance of public holidays, particularly in May, was having a negative impact on productivity, likening the month to “a gruyère — a Swiss cheese full of holes.”
The proposal to scrap Easter Monday, a traditional religious holiday, and May 8th, which commemorates the Allied victory in Europe at the end of World War Two, has already sparked strong debate across the country.
While defending the proposal, Bayrou also signalled a willingness to consider alternative suggestions from lawmakers and the public, saying, “Nothing is set in stone, but something has to give if we are to meet our fiscal and security priorities.”
The plan is part of broader efforts to rebalance the national budget amid rising defence commitments and ongoing economic pressures. Public response and parliamentary debate are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
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