France’s New PM Sebastien Lecornu Rules Out Scrapping Public Holidays Amid Debt Debate

Paris, Sept 2025 : France’s new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced on Saturday that he will not pursue a controversial proposal to cut two public holidays, distancing himself from the austerity measures championed by his predecessor, François Bayrou.

“I have decided to withdraw the abolition of two public holidays,” Lecornu said in an interview with several French newspapers. “It is always in times of deadlock and tension that our country has moved forward. My state of mind is simple: I want neither instability nor immobility.”

The proposal, intended to demonstrate fiscal discipline and help lower France’s budget deficit, had triggered strong public and political resistance. Bayrou’s failure to push the plan through parliament ultimately led to his resignation on September 8, paving the way for Lecornu’s appointment.

France faces daunting fiscal challenges. With a public debt of €3.3 trillion and a budget deficit equal to 5.4 percent of gross domestic product, the government is under pressure to rein in spending. However, a fragmented legislature has stalled reform efforts. Since President Emmanuel Macron’s snap parliamentary elections last year, no single party has commanded a majority, leaving premiers dependent on alliances with both the center-left Socialists and the conservative Les Républicains.

By scrapping the unpopular holiday cuts, Lecornu signals a more cautious approach as he seeks to stabilize both parliament and public opinion. His immediate task is to craft a budget capable of winning cross-party support while reassuring French citizens that reforms will not come at the expense of cherished traditions.

“I want to tell the French… we will get there,” Lecornu declared earlier this week at the official handover ceremony alongside Bayrou, underscoring his determination to break the political deadlock without deepening divisions.