PARIS, 21 July 2025 — The French government is facing a storm of national outrage after proposing to eliminate two public holidays as part of a sweeping austerity plan. The measures aim to cut €43.8 billion in spending by 2026. Prime Minister François Bayrou, appointed in December 2024, unveiled the plan Tuesday, warning France’s public debt, 114% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the end of Q1 2025, demands urgent action.
Proposed cuts include axing Easter Monday and May 8 (Victory in Europe Day). Officials argue these days “no longer hold essential meaning” and contribute to a “month full of long weekends” hindering productivity, according to Reuters. Bayrou defended the decision as a last-ditch effort to stabilize France’s finances before “the cliff,” stating it would “increase economic activity in businesses, shops, and the civil service,” as reported by Al Arabiya English.
Public Backlash and Political Vulnerability
Reaction was swift and heated. Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, denounced the plan as an “organized robbery,” accusing the government of forcing citizens “to work for free,” according to Jacobin. Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally, slammed the move as “a direct attack on our history, our roots, and the France of work,” a sentiment echoed across public opinion polls showing significant rejection of the holiday cuts, as reported by CTV News.
Beyond holidays, the austerity package includes a “solidarity contribution” from the wealthy, eliminating 3,000 public sector jobs by not replacing retiring civil servants, and freezing pensions, according to Gazeta Express.
Defense Spending Spared Amid Cuts
Despite the widespread austerity, defense spending remains untouched. President Emmanuel Macron, speaking ahead of Bastille Day, announced an accelerated plan to boost defense spending to €64 billion by 2027, effectively doubling the 2017 budget three years earlier than planned. This includes additional €3.5 billion in 2026 and €3 billion in 2027, aimed at critical areas like ammunition and smart weaponry, as reported by Breaking Defense. This prioritization highlights France’s focus on military readiness amidst geopolitical shifts, a topic covered in our European Defense section.
Broader European Economic and Political Malaise
France’s fiscal challenges reflect a broader European crisis. Germany, Europe’s largest economy, lost 120,000 manufacturing jobs in 2024, according to its Federal Employment Agency (BA) (March 2025). The UK’s annual production output also contracted by 1.7% in 2024, as per the Office for National Statistics (February 2025). This deindustrialization fuels economic stagnation and contributes to the rise of far-right populist movements across the continent.
The return of U.S. President Donald Trump exacerbates this instability. His administration’s “America First” agenda, including proposed 30% tariffs on EU imports (July 2025), has strained transatlantic trade relations. European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, face pressure to navigate these shifts. This context has driven calls for greater European strategic autonomy, a topic frequently explored in our EU Politics and EU Economy sections.