On October 2, 2025, the heart of Paris beat with the sound of protest rather than the usual hum of tourists, as the Eiffel Tower stood closed—a striking symbol of France’s latest national unrest. Across more than 200 towns and cities, thousands of people took to the streets, denouncing government plans for spending cuts and demanding higher taxes on the wealthy. The disruption, which rippled through daily life and iconic landmarks, marked the latest and perhaps most dramatic chapter in a wave of strikes that began last month amid deep political uncertainty and heated budget debates.
The protests, organized by France’s major unions, brought together workers, retirees, and students. In Paris, the march kicked off from Place d’Italie on Thursday afternoon, with demonstrators brandishing placards and voicing their opposition to draft budget measures they say threaten the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. According to the French interior ministry, some 195,000 people joined protests nationwide, including 24,000 in Paris alone. The CGT, France’s largest union, estimated the turnout at 600,000 nationwide, though even its leaders admitted that momentum had faded compared to the massive protests seen in September.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who stepped into office in September 2025 following the collapse of François Bayrou’s minority government, has yet to announce his full cabinet or unveil the details of his budget plans. This uncertainty has only fueled the anger on the streets. As reported by AFP and France 24, unions are urging Lecornu to scrap draft measures proposed by his predecessor, which include freezes on social welfare and sweeping austerity policies. Critics argue these cuts would further erode the purchasing power of low- and middle-income workers, while unions are also demanding higher taxes on France’s richest citizens.
Speaking to BFM TV, CGT union head Sophie Binet captured the mood: “It’s true, it’s the first time that there are three days of strikes and protests in a month without a government or budget. It shows the level of social anger.” She added, “Why are we protesting now? Because we feel that it’s now that the decisions are being made, and we want to be heard.” The call for “social justice” and a fair distribution of any sacrifices required by the new budget echoed throughout the marches, with many demonstrators insisting that the burden of fiscal discipline should not fall on the vulnerable.
The impact of the strikes was felt far beyond the capital. Regional train services and commuter lines operated at reduced capacity, while high-speed trains managed to run normally, according to SNCF, the national rail company. In Paris, metro traffic was close to normal, but many suburban trains were less frequent, causing headaches for commuters. Teachers and healthcare workers also joined the walkouts, though the turnout among these sectors was reportedly lower than in the previous month’s protests. The disruption even extended to healthcare, with some services delayed or curtailed.
For visitors to Paris, the closure of the Eiffel Tower was a visible sign of the unrest. A placard at the base of the monument read, “Due to a strike the Eiffel Tower is closed, we apologize,” as reported by Hindustan Times and AP. Tourists, many of whom had traveled from afar, were left peering up at the iron lattice from behind barriers, their plans upended by the day’s events. Yet for many Parisians, the closure was just one manifestation of a much deeper crisis gripping the nation.
The roots of the current turmoil stretch back to early September, when François Bayrou’s government collapsed after losing a crucial confidence vote in parliament. Bayrou had staked his tenure on a plan to rein in France’s ballooning deficit and debt—figures that have alarmed economists and EU officials alike. In 2024, France’s deficit reached 5.8% of GDP, nearly double the EU ceiling, while national debt soared past €3.3 trillion, roughly 114% of economic output. Bayrou’s proposals to slash €44 billion in spending by 2026, including scrapping two public holidays, sparked outrage and set the stage for the current wave of protests.
The new prime minister, Lecornu, faces a daunting task. As BBC and France 24 have noted, he has not only to steer budget negotiations with a deeply divided parliament but also to quell the rising tide of social unrest. In the coming days, Lecornu is expected to deliver a general policy speech and finalize his government’s budget plan. He will also meet with opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally, as well as representatives from the Socialist Party, the Greens, and the Communists. Their support—or the threat of a no-confidence vote—will be critical in the upcoming budget showdown.
Meanwhile, union leaders have broadened their demands. In addition to opposing spending cuts, they are calling for more investment in public services, a reversal of the government’s decision to increase the retirement age, and a tax system that targets the wealthiest. Posters at the protests singled out high-profile billionaires, including LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, accusing them of tax avoidance and demanding greater accountability. One demonstrator’s sign, captured by AP photographers, read: “B Arnault uses 6 tax havens, thief.”
The scale and intensity of the protests have fluctuated over the past month. On September 18, more than 500,000 demonstrators marched in towns and cities across France, with unions claiming over one million participants nationwide. Just a week earlier, a day of anti-government action dubbed the “Block Everything” campaign saw streets choked with smoke, barricades in flames, and volleys of tear gas deployed by police. While the most recent turnout was lower, the persistence of the movement suggests that France’s social fabric remains under significant strain.
As the budget debate looms, all eyes are on Lecornu and the divided parliament. The prime minister is reportedly considering measures to ease the cost of living for workers, such as possible income tax cuts for low-paid couples and reduced payroll charges on overtime hours. Whether these concessions will be enough to placate the unions and avert further unrest remains to be seen.
For now, the closure of the Eiffel Tower stands as a powerful symbol of a nation at a crossroads—torn between the demands of fiscal responsibility and the imperative of social justice. The coming weeks will test not only the resilience of France’s political institutions but also the patience and resolve of its people.
