After France tries to cut public holidays, Italy adds one

ROME - Just weeks after debt-laden France proposed axing two public holidays, Italy is proposing to add a new one in honour of Saint Francis and the pope who took his name.

The plan for the Oct 4 holiday has the backing of all the parties in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition.

It was due to be voted in the lower house of Parliament on Sept 18, but the discussion was delayed until early next week.

Argentine Pope Francis,

who died in April,

was the first to name himself after Saint Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century mystic who renounced his wealth and devoted his life to the poor.

A public holiday in honour of the saint existed decades ago, but it was scrapped in 1977 as part of austerity measures.

Proponents want to reinstate Saint Francis Day from 2026, the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death, despite concerns that it will weigh on state coffers.

“Establishing a public holiday in the name of Francis is a call for peace, cohesion, the value of nature, and his lesson in faith and spirituality,” Mr Maurizio Lupi, leader of the Noi Moderati party which proposed the law, said in a statement to AFP.

Noi Moderati is allied with the main three parties in Ms Meloni’s coalition, who have a majority in parliament.

Italy currently has 12 public holidays, compared to 15 in Cyprus, 14 in countries including Croatia and Spain, and 11 in France, Greece and Sweden.

France’s recently ousted prime minister Francois Bayrou sparked outrage with his proposal to cut two public holidays, which he said would add “several billions of euros” to the state’s coffers.

His successor has

since been forced to drop the plan.

Meanwhile in Italy some lawmakers are pushing for yet another new public holiday on March 19 to mark Saint Joseph’s Day – Father’s Day – but to no success so far. AFP