The Eiffel Tower was hit by a power failure June 17 caused by electricity workers protesting the government’s partial privatization plan, but visitors to the Paris landmark were unaware of the lapse because the tower’s emergency backup system worked as designed. Power was also cut off on the Champs-Elysees for 15 minutes, with some stores evacuating shoppers. Further such power cuts are possible as workers try to block government reforms, but in most cases inconveniences should be limited.
