France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu buys during a visit to a bakery to mark Labour Day in Saint-Julien-Chapteuil, south-central France, on May 1, 2026. KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP
French bakeries sold crusty baguettes and flaky croissants with government backing Friday, May 1, defying labor unions arguing that May 1 should remain a sacred day of compulsory rest.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu ordered several baguettes in front of the cameras in the village of Saint-Julien-Chapteuil in central France. "Let's have several... at least four," he said, as he sought to promote a new bill to clearly exempt independent bread and flower shops from mandatory rest on Labor Day.
Under French law, "May 1 is a public holiday and a non-working day." Essential services – such as hospitals and hotels – can remain open but must pay their staff double.
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