French PM Wants To Remove 2 National Holidays, Immediately Criticizes Investigating The People

JAKARTA - French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed the abolition of two national holidays and freezing most of public spending.

The move was proposed as part of a budget cuts of 43.8 billion euros ($50.88 billion) that Bayrou described on Tuesday.

Bayrou's plan involves freezing well-being spending and tax rates in 2026 at the same level as 2025, even without taking into account inflation.

This plan was immediately criticized by far-right and far-right politicians.

France's budget deficit hit 5.8% of last year's gross domestic product, nearly double the European Union's official 3% of GDP, as a result of a political crisis that crippled four governments in a row and was unable to cope with an unexpected decline in tax revenues and a surge in spending for the second year.

"Everyone should contribute to this effort," Bayrou told a news conference.

French PM warned public debt is a "lethal danger" to France and needs to be taken seriously.

The freezing of welfare spending is likely to be as unpopular for many voters as is the removal of two possible public holidays Monday Easter and May 8, which commemorates the end of World War II in Europe.

Too many national holidays in May, and the French people had to return to work that month, Bayrou said.

The scheme, according to him, is believed to have an impact on additional billions of euros in revenue for the country, as everyone will work more and earn more.

"This government prefers to attack the French people, workers, and retirees, rather than eradicate waste," said the leader of the far-right National Party, Marine Le Pen, on X.

"If Francois Bayrou doesn't revise his plans, we will choose not to believe in him," he continued.

Left-wing parties also criticized. Leader of the Socialist Party, Oliver Faure, whose party helped Bayrou pass the 2025 budget.

"This is not a recovery plan, but a plan to destroy French (social) models," he said.

Bayrou, a veteran centrist politician, must convince opposition ranks in the divided French parliament to at least tolerate cutting its budget, or risk facing a disbelieving motion as it toppled its predecessor in December over the 2025 budget.

The risk of motion does not believe it will most likely only strengthen after a detailed draft budget is submitted to parliament in October.