France to abolish Easter Monday holiday for budget savings
French Prime Minister François Bayrou. Photo: open sources
The French government plans to include in the 2026 state budget a provision abolishing two public holidays – Easter Monday and May 8 (Europe’s Victory Day). The report comes from the French newspaper Les Echos.
According to a letter from Prime Minister François Bayrou sent to business and labor associations, this measure is expected to bring an additional €4.2 billion to the state budget in 2026 alone.
The authorities justify the move by noting that the French work fewer hours than their European counterparts. For example, in Germany, full-time employees work 1,790 hours per year, compared to 1,673 hours for similar positions in France.
The Cabinet is open to compromise: if the abolition of these particular holidays meets strong resistance, the government will consider scrapping other public holidays instead.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that France topped the list of anti-Christian countries in the EU.
Read also
Myltsi Monastery shows pictures of shrine's revival from ruins
Archive footage of the St. Nicholas Monastery in Myltsi dated 1994 and modern photos of the revived monastery have been published online.
Embassy of Ukraine holds "prayer for Ukraine" at Weiling Wall in Jerusalem
The Ukrainian Embassy performed a ceremony at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
Founder of children's shelter in Athens asks for help to avoid prison
The Athens Court of Appeals sentenced the head of the Greek foundation to 9.5 years in prison with the right of redemption.
In Butove, OCU supporters hold meeting on UOC parish "transfer"
In the House of Culture, residents of the village of Butove, Rivne region, decided the fate of St. John's Church of the UOC.
His Beatitude reads first part of Great Penitential Canon at Lavra
Metropolitan Onuphry led the Great Compline at the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, with the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.
Orthodox youth meetings held in deaneries of UOC's Rivne Eparchy
Spiritual and educational events ahead of Great Lent were held in the deaneries of the Rivne Eparchy with the participation of clergy and Orthodox youth.