Large-scale protests in France have forced the closure of the Eiffel Tower. The demonstrations, which started on Thursday, are a response to the government’s austerity measures. Thousands of individuals participated in the protests, prompting the Eiffel Tower management to halt operations. The protesters, comprising workers, retirees, and students, gathered to voice their disapproval.
The recent protests are part of a larger movement that commenced the previous month. According to the French Interior Ministry, around 195,000 individuals participated in nationwide protests, with 24,000 in Paris. These demonstrations have impacted regional rail services and healthcare, while Paris metro services mostly continued as normal. Many teachers and healthcare professionals also joined the protests.
Protesters are contesting the planned budget cuts for the coming year. Trade unions are attempting to exert pressure on President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Union leaders are demanding increased spending on public services, the abandonment of the government’s plans to raise the retirement age, and higher taxes on the affluent. In the previous month, marches drew over 500,000 participants in various French cities. Unions estimate that more than a million employees and demonstrators were involved in those protests. The heart of the issue lies in the government’s plan to cut spending on public services in the upcoming budget. Unions and protestors are pushing for the avoidance of cuts in essential sectors like education, healthcare, and other public services, favoring increased taxes on the wealthy to ease the burden on the public. Demonstrators are also calling for the government to reconsider the decision to raise the retirement age, suggesting a preference for greater investments in social services rather than austerity measures.