Copenhagen, 28 February 2023 (dpa/MIA) - A majority of the Danish parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of abolishing the public holiday the Great Prayer Day.

After hours of debate, 95 members of parliament voted in favour and 68 against abolishing the holiday, the Danish news agency Ritzau reported.

The Danish government had presented its plan to abolish the holiday in January as a way to save millions of euros, which resulted in criticism from the church as well as trade unions.

The public holiday, which falls on the fourth Friday after Easter, is to be considered a general working day from 2024.

Employees with fixed salaries are to receive a supplement of 0.45% of their annual salary.

The money flushed into the state coffers by the move is earmarked to finance higher military spending.