Duma deputy rejects idea of moving New Year days off to May 2027

Hoping for a longer May break in 2027? A member of the State Duma (Russia's lower house of parliament) isn't convinced.

Elena Tsunaeva, who sits on the Duma committee for labour, social policy and veterans' affairs, said New Year days off coincide with school holidays. In her view, that makes it pointless to move some of them to May.

Take time off instead

Tsunaeva said anyone who wants to bridge the May break can use days in lieu or take annual leave for those dates. She added that the idea of extending the days off has already been discussed and turned down. It should only come back if new arguments appear.

"From experience I know there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and there will always be people against it," she said. Some have a dacha (country cottage), others have elderly parents, and others have children, so someone will always be unhappy.

How did this start?

The day before, Sergei Mironov, leader of the Just Russia party, proposed moving part of the New Year break to May in 2027. Next year the New Year holidays will run for 11 days, from 31 December to 10 January. The May holidays are split in two: 1 to 3 May and 8 to 10 May.