At a glance
- As widely reported in the press, French budget plans for 2026 unveiled by Prime Minister Francois Bayou on 14 July include proposals to abolish two public holidays.
- The targeted public holidays are Easter Monday and 8 May.
- The plan aims to increase productivity, GDP, and additional tax revenues.
- The proposal is currently at a very early stage. A draft finance bill will be produced in September after discussions with unions and will not be finalised until it has progressed through the legislative process during which it can be subject to significant change.
Update: 20 October 2025
Prime Minister François Bayrou's July 2025 plan to eliminate two public holidays, which was framed as a necessary step toward budgetary discipline, quickly sparked widespread backlash across the political spectrum and among the general public. Faced with mounting pressure, including union mobilisation and political dissent, Bayrou was forced to resign, and his successor, Sébastien Lecornu, officially abandoned the plan in October 2025.
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