Eiffel Tower Chief to Resign After Staff Gender Controversy

The chief executive of the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, Patrick Branco Ruivo, will resign at the end of the year, the company SETE announced. The decision follows an internal investigation that identified "operational flaws and shortcomings" in the organization of a recent visit by a Hindu religious group.

During the visit by approximately 100 individuals associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) group earlier this month, female staff members were reportedly replaced by male colleagues. BAPS, a movement with origins in the 18th century, practices a strict separation of men and women in its religious activities.

SETE stated that the Hindu delegation had requested that the visit be arranged to minimize interactions with women, and that "these conditions should not have been accepted." A union representative described the situation as humiliating for the women who were asked to leave their posts. Staff at the landmark also reported that female employees were instructed to avoid certain areas while the delegation was present.

The incident led to a temporary closure of the tower as staff went on strike to protest the events. Political figures condemned the actions, with Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France's National Assembly, stating her refusal to permit women being sidelined to accommodate foreign visitors' demands. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire called the decision "absurd, unjust and unacceptable" and initiated two separate investigations.

SETE chair Ariel Weil confirmed that measures and training programs promoting gender equality would be implemented. He added that the coming months would be used to prepare for a smooth leadership transition.