Protesters holding French CGT and Sud Culture Solidaires labour unions flags stand in front of the glass Pyramid to block the entrance of the Louvre museum to protest against the French government鈥檚 pension reform, in Paris, France, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Horaci Garcia
PARIS 鈥� Trade union protesters angered by President Emmanuel Macron鈥檚 move to raise the French retirement age without a final vote in parliament blocked the Louvre museum in Paris on Monday, frustrating crowds of visitors.
Demonstrating peacefully against plans to make most French work an extra two years to 64 to balance the pension budget, a small number of protesters gathered at the foot of the Louvre鈥檚 glass pyramid. One banner read 鈥淩etire at 60 鈥� work less to live longer.鈥�
A queue of disappointed tourists snaked through the courtyard.
鈥淭his is ridiculous, we come from everywhere in the world with our children to visit a museum and it鈥檚 ridiculous that 20 people are blocking the entrance,鈥� said Samuel, a Mexican tourist who did not give his surname.
鈥淚 really understand where they鈥檙e coming from, and it鈥檚 fair enough. But we all would like to go and see 鈥楳ona Lisa鈥�, but never mind,鈥� said Jane, a visitor from London.
Louvre employees were among the protesters outside the famed musemum. A Louvre tour guide came out to address the visitors. 鈥淲e hope you understand our reasons,鈥� she said.
The protest came one day ahead of a 10th round of nationwide strikes and street marches and followed violence in cities across France over the pension system changes.
Separately, Paris police said they were carrying out an operation to prevent unauthorised gatherings in front of the Centre Pomopidou, another landmark museum in Paris.