(de-news.net) – In response to a recent proposal by two prominent economic experts advocating for the elimination of a public holiday as a means to stimulate economic growth, the federal government has clarified that this issue falls within the legislative purview of the individual federal states. It was emphasized that, under current legal frameworks, only the Day of German Unity is designated at the federal level, with all other public holidays subject to state-level jurisdiction. The federal government acknowledged that discussions concerning the potential reduction of public holidays for economic purposes recur periodically. It further noted the present economic challenges facing the country and affirmed its commitment to enacting timely and effective measures aimed at enhancing economic activity, despite existing fiscal constraints.

During a press briefing, Monika Schnitzer, Chair of the German Council of Economic Experts, along with fellow council member Veronika Grimm, had expressed their view that the abolition of a public holiday could yield positive economic outcomes. They reiterated their suggestion that prevailing economic conditions render this an appropriate juncture for such policy considerations. Supporting this position, the German Economic Institute (IW) estimated that the addition of a single working day could result in a GDP increase of between 5 and 8.6 billion euros, corresponding to an approximate 0.2 percent rise in economic output. Notwithstanding these projections, public opinion surveys reveal broad-based opposition to the proposed measure.