Barnier had a message for Copé and those who want to return to November 11 as a non-working day

POLITICS – A few words to enter the debate. Prime Minister Michel Barnier took advantage of a speech this Monday, November 11, Armistice Commemoration Day, to surreptitiously discuss the debate on the removal of one public holiday out of the eleven on our calendar. A hypothesis put forward by some in the political class to save money against a backdrop of budgetary crisis.

Traveling to Meaux (Seine-et-Marne), to inaugurate a reconstructed trench at the Museum of the Great War, the head of government effectively expressed his attachment to November 11 as a public holiday. “ Honoring the memory of these fighters is first of all having the memory of this tragic story, which is why I am happy to meet you on this November 11, a public holiday to which we are attached “, he whispered.

A way of responding, in a few words, to those who, like Jean-François Copé, look favorably on its removal. “ We don't need a public holiday to commemorate November 11, or that would mean that we have 65 million French people at the foot of the war memorials… That would be known », Judged the mayor of Meaux on France Inter, a few hours before the Prime Minister's visit to his city.

« Get involved! », Barnier's appeal to young people

In reality, if the debate around the elimination of a public holiday, like Pentecost Monday, a historically non-working day that has become “ solidarity day » in 2004, certain dates were the subject of a sort of consensus to be protected. This is particularly the case of November 11.

« We do not question November 11, May 8 or Ascension Thursdayexplains for example to Public Senate, Senator LR Chantal Deseyne, co-rapporteur of a text last September which notably recommends the establishment of a second day of solidarity to help finance the care of dependent elderly people .

Beyond the elimination of a public holiday, which the executive confirmed was the subject of a line of work to finance Social Security, the head of government delivered several political messages on the occasion of this speech. He notably summoned “ those of 14 » to urge young people to “to face”has ” raise your head » in front of “great challenges of the world”like climate change, “ social inequalities » or the “ return from war » a Europe.

« Like those of 14, each and every one of you has within you, has within you resources, ideas, energy, creativity, combativeness, generosity. These personal forces must be active “, he said to the “ young people today. » And added: “ Commit to the climate. Take action against poverty, precariousness and isolation. Commit to the transmission of our heritage, our history, our culture, our homeland. »

The Prime Minister ended his speech with an ode to European construction, “ way to avoid further conflicts », calling on the French, and the political class, to be “ definitely patriotic and European », a formula that is dear to him.

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