French Business Owner Urges Macron to Restore Order Before Upcoming Protests

A French business owner whose family’s stores were among the hardest hit during last week’s violent protests has issued a stark warning to President Emmanuel Macron: next Saturday’s demonstration will be “the last chance to save France.”

Michele Teboul, speaking to Fox News Digital, said the unrest has left deep scars across the nation—economically, socially, and psychologically. Her family lost five stores entirely in the looting, with 15 locations targeted in total. The damage goes beyond property; it undermines confidence in the government’s ability to protect its citizens.

“If they don’t do what’s necessary by next Saturday, I think it is lost for France,” Teboul said, addressing both Macron and Interior Minister Laurent Núñez directly.

Her businesses, which span major cities including Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier, were breached despite preventive measures. Lurers used axes to break through boarding up, leaving her sons and staff to face the aftermath of widespread destruction. Repair and insurance compliance could take at least two months—a timeline that threatens not only recovery but also future viability.

“The winter season is dead,” she admitted bluntly, reflecting growing concerns among entrepreneurs about ongoing instability.

The situation has forced some shopkeepers to arm themselves for protection, an unsettling shift in French society. “You know, we are not used to weapons in France,” Teboul noted.

Beyond economic impact, the violence has heightened fears within the Jewish community. As a former director of CRIF—the umbrella organization representing French Jewish institutions—Teboul says many are reconsidering their long-term future in the country.

However, she emphasized that this issue transcends any single group: “The specific problem of last Saturday is not a problem of Jews. The whole of France is concerned by this problem.”

Authorities have acknowledged shortcomings in managing the protests, with Teboul accusing police of underestimating the scale of lawless activity. She believes there were two parallel events on that day—the legitimate protestors and opportunistic criminals exploiting the chaos.

“They were not enough,” she stated simply regarding the police presence.

As public outrage grows and political pressure mounts, all eyes now turn to how the government responds ahead of the planned demonstrations scheduled for this coming Saturday. For Teboul, restoring safety and order isn’t just about preserving businesses—it’s about safeguarding France itself.

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