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Nationwide strikes in France caused the Eiffel Tower to close on October 2. About 85,000 people demonstrated against government budget cuts, resulting in travel disruptions and heightened security across major cities in the country.
Visitors with e-tickets received notifications via email, and no reopening date had been given by the evening of October 2.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 3, 2025 14:43 IST
Nationwide strikes swept across France on October 2, forcing the closure of Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower. The strike drew tens of thousands of people to the streets in protest against planned government spending cuts.
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most visited landmarks in the country, announced on its website that it would remain closed due to the strikes. Visitors with e-tickets received notifications via email, and no reopening date had been given by the evening of October 2.
Demonstrations occurred in 240 cities and towns, with around 85,000 participants voicing concerns about the direction of government policy. Trade unions are demanding increased spending on public services, a reversal of the retirement age hike, and higher taxes on the wealthy.
President Emmanuel Macron and the new Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, are currently engaged in budget talks. This comes after the previous Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, was removed from office due to disagreements over a proposed 44-billion-euro budget squeeze. Lecornu has pledged to break from those earlier plans.
Security measures were heightened as authorities deployed 76,000 police officers nationwide. While the Paris Metro continued to function largely as normal, regional train services experienced delays and disruptions, according to French media.
Recent weeks have also seen similar strikes and protests from teachers, train drivers, and public workers, all raising concerns over the proposed 2026 budgets.
Ahead of the strikes, the US Embassy in France issued an alert warning travellers of "a very large turnout" and advised them to avoid demonstration areas. The advisory also mentioned "the possibility of violent clashes."
Disruptions extended to flights and other forms of transport, with local authorities urging residents and visitors to stay informed about protest locations and service updates as the situation continued to evolve.
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Oct 3, 2025
