The proposal by the federal government to abolish a public holiday in order to stimulate the economy is facing widespread rejection among the public. A survey conducted by Forsa for the magazine Stern and broadcaster RTL shows that only 21 % of German citizens consider such a measure appropriate, while 76 % oppose it.
The scepticism cuts across all demographic groups. Workers are particularly opposed: just 16 % of employed people support the removal of a holiday, whereas 82 % reject it. There is little difference between East and West Germany.
Among party supporters the picture is similar. Union voters (the CDU/CSU) show a slightly higher approval rate, with 31 % in favour, but the majority still oppose the idea. The level of opposition is most pronounced among supporters of the Left, where 85 % are against the change, and among AfD followers, where 87 % reject the proposal.
The debate stems from discussions within the government about increasing working days to enhance economic performance. Facing weak economic data and persistent growth challenges, various measures are being weighed to raise productivity. Eliminating a holiday is seen as a quickly implementable option that would instantly create more working hours. Critics argue that this approach would not resolve the underlying structural problems of the economy and warn that it could face significant societal acceptability issues.