Eiffel Tower closed as nationwide strikes hit France over austerity measures

Protesters took to the streets in over 200 towns and cities across France Thursday, denouncing government spending cuts and demanding higher taxes on the wealthy.

In the capital, thousands of workers, retirees, and students marched from Place d’Italie, while the Eiffel Tower announced it would remain closed due to the ongoing strikes.

The nationwide action, organized by major French unions, comes amid political uncertainty and budget debates. Unions are urging Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to scrap draft budget measures introduced by his predecessor, which include social welfare freezes and austerity steps they say would further reduce the purchasing power of low- and middle-income workers. They are also pressing for higher taxation on the rich.

Lecornu, who took office last month, has yet to present his budget plans or appoint government ministers. The deeply divided parliament is expected to debate the budget bill by year-end.

Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, told BFM TV, “It’s the first time there are three days of strikes and protests in a month without a government or budget. It shows the level of social anger. We are protesting now because decisions are being made, and we want to be heard.”

The French Interior Ministry reported 195,000 protesters nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris. National rail services remained mostly normal, though some regional lines faced partial disruptions. Metro services in Paris ran near normal, but many commuter trains operated at reduced capacity. Teachers and healthcare workers also joined the strikes, though turnout was lower than last month.

On Sept. 18, more than 500,000 demonstrators marched across France, including in Paris, while unions estimated over one million nationwide. Earlier protests in late September, part of the “Block Everything” campaign, saw streets filled with smoke, barricades set on fire, and clashes with police using tear gas.