The Eiffel Tower remained closed on Thursday as sweeping strikes and protests erupted across France, with citizens rallying against proposed austerity measures and calling for increased taxes on the wealthy.
Demonstrations took place in more than 200 towns and cities nationwide. In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees, and students marched from Place d’Italie, voicing their opposition to government spending cuts and welfare freezes.
The mass mobilization, led by major French trade unions, comes amid political uncertainty and ongoing budget negotiations. Protesters are demanding Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu abandon draft budget measures introduced by his predecessor. These measures include social welfare freezes and other cost-cutting steps that unions say would erode the purchasing power of low- and middle-income households. They are also calling for higher taxation on the wealthy to ease the burden on ordinary citizens.
Prime Minister Lecornu, who assumed office just last month, has yet to unveil his own fiscal plan or appoint a full cabinet. With Parliament sharply divided, budget debates are expected to continue through the end of the year.
Speaking to BFM TV, CGT union leader Sophie Binet said, “It’s the first time we’ve seen three days of strikes and protests in a single month without a government or a formal budget. That says a lot about the level of public anger. We’re mobilizing now because decisions are being made behind closed doors — and we demand to be heard.”
According to the Interior Ministry, around 195,000 people participated in Thursday’s protests across the country, including 24,000 in Paris alone. While national rail services remained largely unaffected, some regional lines experienced delays and partial cancellations. Metro services in the capital operated near normal levels, but several commuter routes ran on reduced schedules.
Teachers, healthcare professionals, and other public sector workers also joined the walkouts, though turnout appeared lower compared to previous demonstrations.
Just weeks earlier, on 18 September, more than 500,000 protesters took to the streets nationwide, according to government figures. Unions claimed the number exceeded one million. Earlier protests in late September part of the escalating “Block Everything” campaign saw intense scenes with burning barricades, smoke-filled streets, and clashes between demonstrators and riot police armed with tear gas.
As France enters a new phase of political and economic tension, unions have vowed to continue their pressure campaign until the proposed austerity plans are dropped or substantially revised.
