Protesters flooded over 200 French towns and cities on Thursday, voicing opposition to spending cuts and demanding that higher taxes be imposed on the wealthy.

In Paris, a substantial crowd of workers, retirees, and students embarked on a march from Place d'Italie. The iconic Eiffel Tower was inaccessible to tourists, shut in solidarity with the strikes.

France's principal unions called the nationwide strike, marking another wave of unrest amidst heightened political discussions and budget deliberations. The unions urged Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reassess budget proposals inherited from his predecessor, which would authorize welfare freezes and austerity measures perceived as detrimental to the middle class.

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