French PM Proposes Cutting National Holidays To Cut Debt \u2022 Channels Television
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Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said Tuesday he wanted to reduce the number of public holidays in France as part of a bid to tackle what he called the \u201ccurse\u201d of his country\u2019s debt.<\/strong><\/p>\n Presenting 2026 budget proposals, Bayrou said two out of France\u2019s 11 national holidays could go, suggesting Easter Monday and May 8, a day that commemorates the end of World War II in Europe.<\/p>\n Such a measure would bring France into line with Germany\u2019s nine national holidays \u2014 although federal states can add their own \u2014 and take it well below Italy\u2019s 12 days.<\/p>\n After years of overspending, France is on notice to control its public deficit and cut its sprawling debt, as required under EU rules.<\/p>\n Bayrou said France had to borrow each month to pay pensions and the salaries of civil servants, a state of affairs he called \u201ca curse with no way out\u201d.<\/p>\n Losing two public holidays, meanwhile, would add \u201cseveral billions of euros\u201d to the state\u2019s coffers, Bayrou said.<\/p>\n But the proposed measure sparked an immediate protest from Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally.<\/p>\n He said abolishing two holidays, \u201cespecially ones as filled with meaning as Easter Monday and May 8 is a direct attack on our history, our roots and on labour in France\u201d.<\/p>\n The party\u2019s parliamentary leader, Marine Le Pen, warned that \u201cif Francois Bayrou does not revise his plan, we will vote for a no-confidence motion\u201d.<\/p>\n Leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party called for Bayrou\u2019s resignation, saying \u201cthese injustices cannot be tolerated any longer\u201d.<\/p>\n His party colleague Mathilde Panot accused Bayrou of starting \u201ca social war\u201d.<\/p>\n Bayrou had said previously that France\u2019s budgetary position needed to be improved by 40 billion euros ($46.5 billion) next year.<\/p>\n But this figure has risen after President Emmanuel Macron said at the weekend he wanted 3.5 billion euros of extra military spending next year because of rising international tensions. France has a defence budget of 50.5 billion euros for 2025.<\/p>\n Bayrou said the budget deficit would be cut to 4.6 percent next year, from an estimated 5.4 percent this year, and would fall below the three percent required by EU rules by 2029.<\/p>\n To achieve this, other measures would include a general freeze on spending increases \u00a0\u2014 including on pensions and health \u2014 except for debt servicing and the defence sector, Bayrou said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have become addicted to public spending,\u201d Bayrou said. \u201cWe are at a critical juncture in our history\u201d.<\/p>\n The prime minister even held up Greece as a cautionary tale, an EU member whose spiralling debt and deficits pushed it to the brink of dropping out of the eurozone after the 2008 financial crisis.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must never forget the story of Greece,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n France\u2019s debt stands at 114 per cent of GDP \u2014 compared to 60 per cent allowed under EU rules \u2014 the biggest debt mountain in the EU after Greece and Italy.<\/p>\n The government hopes to cut the number of civil servants by 3,000 next year, and close down \u201cunproductive agencies working on behalf of the state\u201d, the premier said.<\/p>\n Bayrou said wealthy residents would be made to contribute to the financial effort.<\/p>\n \u201cThe nation\u2019s effort must be equitable,\u201d Bayrou said. \u201cWe will ask little of those who have little, and more of those who have more.\u201d<\/p>\n AFP<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nHoliday protests<\/h3>\n
Remember Greece<\/h3>\n