Protests over spending cuts and demands for higher taxes on the wealthy disrupted life across France on Thursday, forcing the closure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Thousands of workers, retirees, and students marched from Place d’Italie, joining rallies in more than 200 towns and cities nationwide. The iconic Paris landmark informed visitors it would remain closed for the day due to the strike action.

The demonstrations, organised by France’s main unions, are part of a broader wave of unrest that began last month amid political uncertainty and tense budget negotiations. Union leaders are calling on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to scrap austerity measures proposed in a draft budget, including freezes on social welfare that critics argue would hit low- and middle-income workers hardest

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