Unions demand reversal of spending cuts and higher taxes on the wealthy as protests spread across the country

The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors on Thursday (October 2, 2025) as nationwide strikes disrupted transportation and public services in France. The mass protests, called by the country’s major unions, were aimed at blocking austerity measures and urging the government to impose higher taxes on the rich.

Thousands of workers, retirees, and students marched through Paris from Place d’Italie in the afternoon, joining demonstrations that spanned across the nation. The French Interior Ministry reported around 195,000 protesters on the streets, including 24,000 in the capital.

Union leaders criticized Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, appointed just last month, for not reversing t

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