France, Aug. 16 -- France's government is weighing a controversial move - scrapping two public holidays - as part of a push to fill state coffers. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has given unions and employers until 30 September to discuss the measure, or risk the government pushing it through.

Prime Minister Francois Bayrou first touted the idea during the announcement of his 2026 budget plan on 15 July.

Bayrou said that France had to borrow each month to pay pensions and salaries of civil servants, a state of affairs he called "a curse with no way out".

By cutting two public holidays - Easter Monday and 8 May, Victory in Europe Day - from a list of 11, France could save €4.2 billion next year, he added.

This corresponds to just...