The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed to visitors on Thursday, Nov. 5, as a nationwide strike disrupted services across France. (Foto: Instagram)
The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed to visitors Thursday, Nov. 5, as a nationwide strike disrupted services across France, including schools and trains. The monument’s official website announced the closure.
The French government deployed 70,000 police officers nationwide ahead of demonstrations planned for Thursday. Organizers expected about 700,000 people to take part in protests against the administration of President Emmanuel Macron. The mobilization comes five months before the presidential election and was called by labor unions, including the left-wing CGT, with support from student groups.
“We need to turn out in large numbers in the streets today,” CGT leader Sophie Binet told the television network LCI. France’s Education Ministry said 17.5% of public elementary school teachers were expected to join the strike.
In Paris, security concerns led the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, to change the route planned for the capital’s main demonstration. Authorities have been seeking to reduce tensions after riots and looting caught security forces by surprise and damaged shops and public buildings across the country.
