In an unprecedented economic initiative, the Prime Minister of France, François Bayrou, initiated a large-scale discussion about national holidays and their economic value. His proposal to eliminate two significant holidays - Easter Monday and May 8th, sparked sharp political debates and strong public response.
Bayrou candidly described the current financial situation as critical, using the dramatic metaphor that the state is "in mortal danger" of suffocating under the weight of enormous state debt. According to his calculations, the state accumulates an additional 5,000 euros in obligations every second, making the proposed measures extremely necessary.
The economic strategy includes several key elements: freezing public expenditures, removing tax breaks for wealthy citizens, and reducing the state administrative apparatus. Simultaneously, the government plans to increase the defense budget by 3.5 billion euros next year.
Eliminating Easter Monday, which Bayrou claims "has no religious significance", is viewed as a symbolic gesture towards increasing national productivity. The Prime Minister emphasized that all citizens must work more and more effectively.
The political reaction was immediate and sharp. The far-right party "National Rally" defined the proposal as an attack on French history and workers' rights. The leader of "The Greens" Marine Tondelie expressed regret about losing a memorable day associated with the victory over Nazism.
Bayrou remained resolute, defining his plan as "elementary arithmetic". The government sets the ambitious goal of reducing the budget deficit from 5.8% to under 4.6% next year and under 3% by 2029.
The political situation is extremely unstable. Bayrou, who took office in December after Michel Barnier's brief administration, risks a vote of no confidence. Opposition parties like "Unbowed France" and "National Rally" are already threatening to provoke a government crisis.
President Emmanuel Macron, whose rating is below 25%, faces a serious political challenge. In the event of government failure, he will need to appoint a new prime minister or a technocratic government, which further complicates the political configuration.
The proposed measures are an attempt to radically restructure the French economy during a period of exceptional financial uncertainty. Bayrou is determined to continue his course "despite the risk", demonstrating political courage in conditions of deep parliamentary fragmentation.
The final result of this bold economic strategy remains uncertain, but one thing is indisputable - the French political scene is going through one of its most dynamic periods in its modern history.