In Paris, thousands of workers, retirees and students marched from Place d'Italie on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower informed visitors in a statement that it was closed due to the strikes. The French Interior Ministry said that 195,000 protesters took to the streets across the country, including 24,000 in Paris. 'We want to be heard'The nationwide strikes, called by France's major unions, are the latest of a series of protests that started last month, fueled by political turmoil and heated budget talks. Unions reported more than one million strikers and protesters nationwide.