Eiffel Tower chief steps down after female staff removed during Hindu visit

In September 5, around 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu religious group, conducted a private visit to the Eiffel Tower. During the visit, female employees were reportedly moved from their usual positions and asked to avoid certain areas. The affected women were informed by their male colleagues to take their places, while other females were prohibited from passing through specific sections of the tower.

SETE, the entity responsible for the Eiffel Tower's operations, acknowledged that the conditions were never agreed upon and that the exclusion of female staff was unacceptable. An internal investigation revealed that management had failed to organise the visit properly and had violated gender equality standards. This led to a staff protest, the temporary closure of the landmark, and an investigation.

Patrick Branco Ruivo, the current director general, announced his resignation at the end of 2026. The incident has prompted SETE to implement new protocols and training to improve gender equality and prevent similar occurrences in the future.