Protesters have taken to the streets of more than 200 towns and cities across France to denounce spending cuts and demand higher taxes on the rich.

In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees and students marched on Thursday afternoon from Place d'Italie.

The Eiffel Tower informed visitors in a statement that it was closed due to the strikes.

The nationwide strikes, called by France's major unions, are the latest of a series of protests that started last month, fuelled by political turmoil and heated budget talks.

Unions are urging Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which include social welfare freezes and austerity measures that many say will further erode the purchasing power of low-paid and middle-class workers.

They also cal

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