Le Prime Minister has decided: We’re not touching the November 11th. For several days now, as part of the race to save money launched by the Barnier governmentthe question of a second solidarity day was raised by many members of parliament.
To put it plainly, which of the eleven public holidays on our calendar could be abolished? Like the Whit Mondaythe first solidarity day introduced in 2004, a new day would see employees work without extra pay.
Michel Barnier puts Jean-François Copé in his place
An idea supported by Economy Minister Antoine Armand and Budget Minister Michel Barnier, Laurent Saint-Martinat the end of October. On this Monday, November 11, Jean-François Copé, mayor of Meaux, spoke to France Inter to propose this day of commemoration. “There’s never a good public holiday to do away with, there’s never a good way to save money. We don’t need a public holiday to commemorate November 11th, or else it would mean having 65 million French people standing at the foot of the war memorials”, explained the former MP, before adding that there are “a thousand ways to commemorate without not working”.
A few hours later, when he had joined the Prime Minister in his home town of Meaux for the Great War commemorations, the latter took it upon himself to respond, and the speech had the merit of being clear: “Honoring the memory of these servicemen means first and foremost remembering this tragic history, which is why I am happy to be with you again on this November 11th, a public holiday to which we are all attached.” Let’s hope that Jean-François Copé received the message.