The New People faction has put forward a plan to stretch the May holiday period from May 1 through May 9. The initiative was launched by Vladislav Davankov, the first deputy chair of the party, and deputy chairman of the State Duma. The bill was submitted to the State Duma by Alexei Nechaev, Sangadzhi Tarbaev, Anna Skroznikova, Anton Tkachev, and Georgy Arapov.
Davankov argued that the country should stop mistaking long weekends for real productivity. He pointed to the current break from April 29 to May 1 and criticized the four-day work cycle that follows, arguing that many entrepreneurs feel the hit to efficiency and that ordinary workers and officials alike are affected. The proposal involves changes to the Labor Code article governing non-working holidays.
Alongside extending May’s holiday, the authors suggested shortening the New Year break. They claim the plan would preserve the total number of non-working days without increasing or decreasing the overall holiday count or requiring extra budgetary funds.
Davankov outlined that if the bill passes quickly, this year would see no gap between April 29 and May 9. He suggested that next year and future years would begin the January holidays on January 1 and run through January 3, with Christmas Day on January 7, and then May holidays from May 1 to May 9 without interruption, creating a continuous holiday period.
Lawmakers contend that during the January holidays many people stay indoors due to cold weather, missing outdoor time and leisure options. Polls cited by the party indicate that about two‑thirds of Russians did not venture out during the January weekend. They argue that winter entertainment often revolves around home activities and media, and the icy conditions can lead to injuries from activities outside. In their view, warmer May weather would encourage more time in nature, boost domestic tourism, and help small businesses flourish.
Davankov concluded that an extra spring weekend for barbecues in the forest is a healthier alternative to spending winter days at home with salads. He also noted that regional authorities already have discretion to schedule additional days off for the May holidays; Adygea, for example, adjusted the May timetable in 2022 to extend holidays from May 1–5 and May 7–10.
“All the same”
State Duma deputy Yaroslav Nilov expressed skepticism about the New People’s plan during an interview with Lenta.ru. He indicated that discussions about long weekends and shorter New Year breaks had persisted for more than a year and that the Labor Code currently balances the interests of workers, employers, and the government. Nilov suggested the prospects for the new bill were not strong, noting prior proposals to the same effect had not gained traction in the Duma.
Andrey Isaev, vice president of the United Russia faction, told TASS that any proposal to extend May holidays while shortening New Year holidays should first be reviewed by the commission on social and labor relations. He emphasized that the present holiday schedule reflects a tripartite agreement among unions, employers, and the state and that holiday counts should be discussed within such negotiations. Isaev also observed that similar ideas have circulated for quite a while. The New People, a new faction in the State Duma, are seen by some lawmakers as out of step with the broader consensus before the winter and spring holidays.
Davankov later suggested extending May holidays all the way back to 2022, citing concerns over seed supply and the arrival of the planting season. He argued that longer holidays would support food security. Labor Minister Anton Kotyakov later clarified that the minister’s office does not enact such changes by itself and that any proposal would require formal processes and approvals.