(SeaPRwire) –   By: Julian Holbrooke

The threat isn’t coming from a foreign adversary or a digital black swan. It is rolling into Paris, Marseille, and Lyon on foot. A Jewish business owner with five of her family’s stores wrecked by looters last week is issuing a stark warning to President Emmanuel Macron. Next Saturday is his last chance to save France. If the government fails to deploy adequate police forces to protect businesses, the state has lost its capacity to govern. This is not a political debate. It is a survival assessment from someone who lost faith in the government’s ability to protect her livelihood.

Michele Teboul’s business operations span Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier. Her sons operate their own brand within the company. Last week, attackers used axes to break through boarding. Five of her most important stores were looted and completely destroyed. She accused authorities of failing to provide enough police. The damage went beyond merchandise. Teboul and her family lost their sense of security. They now face a costly recovery while paying for additional protection. She noted that attackers sought streetwear and expensive goods. The government has acknowledged failures in its response. They mistook the threat for an ordinary demonstration.

The subtext here is a collapse of the social contract. Teboul, a former director of CRIF, the umbrella organization for French Jewish institutions, says many Jews are considering leaving France. She distinguishes between students protesting grievances and those using demonstrations as cover to steal. She heard estimates that around 30,000 young people arrived in central Marseille, though BFM reported between 1,800 and 3,000 people engaged in ransacking. Her sons have hired security guards with dogs. Some other shopkeepers have bought weapons or tear gas. Teboul emphasizes that her sons have not purchased weapons. She stated that it would take at least two months to repair and secure the stores to insurance standards. She called the winter season dead. Younger businesses face a more difficult path than those with financial reserves. The government promised help, but she remains skeptical.

Macron’s administration faces an existential crisis of legitimacy. If they do not do what is necessary next Saturday, it is lost for France. The specific problem is not just a Jewish issue. The whole of France is concerned. Teboul warns that another failure could see the government fall. We must feel secure. Right now, we do not. The pendulum has shifted from political dissatisfaction to physical vulnerability. The state’s monopoly on violence is fracturing in the streets.

Author bio: Julian Holbrooke is an overseas international relations analyst who frequently contributes to major European daily newspapers, specializing in the intersection of civil unrest and state governance.