French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has decided to abandon his predecessor's plan to cut two public holidays as part of efforts to reduce the national deficit, amid economic pressures including France's credit rating downgrade by Fitch. Lecornu is navigating a challenging political landscape to pass a slimmed-down 2026 budget while addressing economic instability and maintaining parliamentary support.
Cyprus has the most public holidays in Europe with 15 days, while France ranks around average with 11 days, and proposals to cut holidays in France aim to boost the economy. The number of holidays varies across countries and regions, with some countries like Slovakia and Denmark having recently reduced holidays for economic reasons. Public holidays are just one aspect of workers' time off, with other factors like annual leave and school holidays also significant.
France's government proposed cutting two public holidays to boost economic growth, but the plan faces strong opposition from political parties and the public, highlighting the cultural importance of holidays and the political challenges of fiscal reform.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou proposed cutting Easter Monday and May 8 public holidays to help reduce the country's €43.8 billion budget deficit, sparking political backlash and raising concerns about government stability amid efforts to increase defense spending and implement austerity measures.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed significant austerity measures, including scrapping two public holidays and freezing welfare spending, to reduce France's budget deficit and address public debt, facing criticism from opposition parties.
French Prime Minister is considering eliminating two public holidays as part of a €40 billion budget plan for 2026, which threatens to destabilize his government amid ongoing political tensions.
Iran has declared Wednesday and Thursday as public holidays due to "unprecedented heat," urging the elderly and those with health conditions to stay indoors. Temperatures in southern cities have exceeded 123 degrees Fahrenheit (51 Celsius), prompting the government to put hospitals on high alert. Heatwaves, which scientists link to human-induced climate change, have been affecting various parts of the world in recent weeks.
