To make up for the Social Security deficit, the idea of eliminating a public holiday has resurfaced. November 11, the day of commemoration, could be sacrificed according to Jean-François Copé. A proposal that creates a reaction between respected traditions and budgetary constraints.
Reducing the deficit: an emergency for Social Security
The Social Security deficit continues to grow, forcing the government to seek new solutions to balance the books. Among the options studied, the elimination of a public holiday would allow significant savings. Indeed, each public holiday costs productivity, and the return to work of millions of French people even for one day could bring in several billion euros.
The Minister of the Budget, Laurent Saint-Martin, sees this measure as a strong signal: the idea that the French must contribute to the national effort to stabilize the social model. According to calculations, removing a public holiday could result in a substantial saving, similar to the 3.3 billion euros saved when reducing Whit Monday in 2004. This debate will be discussed in Parliament to decide on the day concerned and the best approach.
November 11: a symbolic day in question
Among the public holidays, November 11, the day commemorating the armistice of 1918, attracts particular attention. Jean-François Copé, former minister responsible for the Budget and current mayor of Meaux, proposes to eliminate this public holiday. According to him, paying tribute to soldiers who died for France does not necessarily require a public holiday. “We don’t need a day off to remember,” he declared, referring to the possibility of commemorating without interrupting economic activity.
This position divides, because November 11 embodies a duty of memory for many French people. The holiday allows citizens to gather and pay their respects, although a tiny proportion of the population goes to war memorials. Some Internet users point out that if the French no longer mobilize massively for these commemorations, the elimination of the public holiday could then seem legitimate. But others see it as an attack on tradition and national history.
Reactions: between tradition and pragmatism
Jean-François Copé's proposal provokes mixed reactions. Those who consider November 11 to be an important memorial day point out that its removal could reduce the scope of this collective tribute. On the other hand, others believe that it is time to rethink all public holidays, including those of religious origin, so that only events actively involving the population are off.
Finally, the debate over the elimination of a public holiday for budgetary reasons reflects a tension between economic imperatives and the preservation of cultural values. The government therefore finds itself faced with a delicate choice, between the urgency of reducing the deficit and the preservation of public holidays, symbols of an essential memorial and social heritage.
