The Louvre Museum in Paris was closed to the public on Monday when its workers took part in the wave of French protest strikes against the governmentB次元官网网址檚 unpopular pension reform plans.

Dozens of Louvre employees blocked the entrance, prompting the museum to announce it would be temporarily closed.

The demonstrators toted banners and flags in front of the LouvreB次元官网网址檚 famed pyramid, where President Emmanuel Macron had celebrated his presidential victory in 2017. They demanded the repeal of the new pension law that raises the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The showbusiness, broadcasting and culture branch of the CGT union tweeted an image of the Mona Lisa with an aged and wrinkled face, with the words: B次元官网网址�64 itB次元官网网址檚 a No!B次元官网网址�

The action comes on the eve of another nationwide protest planned for Tuesday against the bill B次元官网网址� and as Macron holds a meeting with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to discuss the way forward. The Louvre is always closed on Tuesdays, so staff protested a day earlier.

Some tourists were stoic about the artistic blockade.

B次元官网网址淚f you firmly believe that this will bring some change, thereB次元官网网址檚 plenty of other things that we can see in Paris,B次元官网网址� said Britney Tate, a 29-year-old doctoral student from California.

Others who had traveled thousands of miles were more vocal about the inconvenience.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to respect their strike tomorrow, but to do this today, itB次元官网网址檚 just heartbreaking,B次元官网网址� said Karma Carden, a tourist from Fort Myers, Florida. B次元官网网址淲e knew that Versailles would not be open because of the protest, but we knew the Louvre was open.

B次元官网网址淚 understand why theyB次元官网网址檙e upset, but (itB次元官网网址檚 bad) to do this to people from around the world whoB次元官网网址檝e traveled from around the world for this and paid thousands of dollars,B次元官网网址� she added.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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