Nicolas Banchet’s Post

Dear non-French friends, dear non-French network, Normally, I use LinkedIn for professional updates, sharing my pride in the work we do at Zeplug and ChargeGuru. Today, however, my post is more personal. I feel a profound sadness witnessing the spectacle France is about to present to its European neighbors and the world. At a time when the geopolitical situation might be the most fragile since WWII, and our planet's future has never been more concerning, France is on the verge of descending into chaos just when we most need stability. The root of France's problem is simple: we spend more than we earn. This is after significant cuts in many areas—our healthcare system is in crisis, public education is struggling, and even with increased defense spending, we are still far from NATO's targets. Debt isn't inherently bad. If economic growth exceeds the cost of debt, it can be a positive lever. The problem is, we are not generating enough growth. Our social model, while well-intentioned, is simply no longer sustainable. It costs too much for the value we generate. If the French state were a company, it would go bankrupt. If it were a household, it would be declared over-indebted and put under supervision. The current government had a duty to propose a sensible budget that faced this reality. That's what it did. While certainly not perfect, it at least began to show the true cost of getting back on track. In a mature democracy, this would have opened a constructive debate. But instead, several political parties have immediately called for revolution to protect the very social model that is sinking us further into debt. By doing this, they are acting against the best interests of France and its people. The "block everything" movement expresses the deep unease and need for change felt by many people, and it is absolutely legitimate. However, the demands of the parties who want the country to once again fall into chaos are lies, simply because they are not possible. The economic fallout will be immense. Why would investors trust a country in constant revolution, a country suffering from a thousand self-inflicted wounds it refuses to acknowledge? French citizens deserve better—starting with responsible political parties that prioritize the nation's interests over their own. We need stability to build a sustainable economic, social, and ecological future. France has immense potential. Instead of "blocking everything," it's time to "unblock everything" and build our country's future. I know these few lines won't change what's coming this week, but I also know many economic players in this country, especially within the La French Tech , share this view. I wanted to state this clearly before the images of a "blocked France" spread around the world.