Authorities have announced a closure of Eiffel Tower, here’s why

In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees, and students gathered at Place d’Italie before marching through the capital. The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors due to the strike, according to an official statement.

Unions Demand Reversal of Austerity Plans

Unions have urged Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to scrap budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include freezes on social welfare and austerity plans. They argue such measures will further erode the purchasing power of low- and middle-income workers. Instead, they are calling for increased taxes on the wealthy.

Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, said on BFM TV: “It’s true, it’s the first time that there are three days of strikes and protests in a month without a government or budget. It shows the level of social anger.” She added: “Why are we protesting now? Because we feel that it’s now that the decisions are being made, and we want to be heard.”

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The French Interior Ministry reported that 85,000 protesters had taken to the streets by midday outside Paris.

Transport and Public Services Disrupted

National rail operator SNCF said high-speed train services were running normally, but regional lines faced partial disruptions. In Paris, metro services were largely unaffected, though commuter trains operated at reduced capacity. Some teachers and healthcare workers also joined the strike.

Participation appeared lower than last month’s demonstrations, when police figures recorded over 500,000 protesters nationwide, while unions claimed more than 1 million. Earlier anti-government rallies saw fiery barricades, heavy tear gas, and widespread disruption under the “Block Everything” campaign.

The parliament is expected to debate the draft budget bill later this year, while Lecornu is yet to appoint his government ministers or present detailed fiscal plans.