Protests, picnics and politics as France marks fraught May Day
A political row continues in France over whether certain small businesses – especially bakeries and florists – should be allowed to open on France's only public holiday on which paid rest is mandatory for non-essential businesses.
FranceFrance was preparing for large May Day demonstrations on Thursday, as a political row deepens over which businesses should be allowed to open on the country’s most symbolic public holiday, reports Yahoo! News.
A political row continues in France over whether certain small businesses – especially bakeries and florists – should be allowed to open on France's only public holiday when paid rest is mandatory for non-essential businesses.
The issue resurfaced after five bakers in the western Vendée region were taken to court for making staff work on 1 May 2024. They were acquitted last week.
“Until now, we’ve always worked on 1 May without any problems,” Dominique Anract, president of the national bakery and pastry union, told FranceInfo radio.
