(MENAFN) Thousands of demonstrators marched through Paris on Saturday, calling for President Emmanuel Macron’s resignation and advocating for France to leave the European Union.

Macron’s approval rating has plunged to its lowest level since he assumed office in 2017, amid a rising budget deficit and growing dissatisfaction with his government’s financial policies. A recent poll showed that around 80% of French citizens do not trust the president. Confidence in Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, the fifth person to hold the position in under two years, has also fallen sharply.

Protesters carried signs reading “Let’s stop Macron, let’s stop the war” and “Frexit,” echoing the Brexit movement.

The demonstration was organized by former National Rally politician Florian Philippot and his Euroskeptic party, the Patriots, which opposes arms shipments to Ukraine and cautions against further confrontation with Russia.

Separately, left-wing activists and trade unions plan strikes and protests on Wednesday under the slogan “Let’s block everything.”

Bayrou faces a no-confidence vote on Monday as he seeks approval for his proposed budget, which aims to address France’s fiscal deficit of 5.8% of GDP—nearly double the EU’s 3% limit. The plan includes cuts to public sector jobs, welfare programs, and pensions, measures that critics argue prioritize military spending over social support.

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