Greenpeace Escalates Protest: Activists Remove Macron Wax Statue from Paris Museum
In a bold act of civil disobedience, Greenpeace activists have removed a wax figure of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Grevin Museum in Paris and placed it outside the Russian embassy. This dramatic protest aims to draw attention to France’s ongoing business dealings with Russia, even as the latter continues its invasion of Ukraine.
The activists’ decision to target Macron’s likeness stems from France’s position as one of the European countries that has maintained economic ties with Russia despite widespread international condemnation of the Kremlin’s actions. While many nations have imposed harsh sanctions and cut off trade with Russia, France has been accused of being reluctant to fully sever its commercial relationships, particularly in the energy sector.
“By removing President Macron’s wax statue and placing it in front of the Russian embassy, we are sending a clear message that France’s continued trade with Russia is unacceptable,” said a Greenpeace spokesperson. “As long as French companies continue to do business with the Kremlin, they are complicit in the atrocities being committed in Ukraine.”
The Grevin Museum, a renowned wax attraction in the heart of Paris, expressed its disappointment with the incident, stating that the unauthorized removal of the Macron figure was a violation of the museum’s policies. However, Greenpeace maintains that drastic action was necessary to draw attention to the issue and put pressure on the French government to reconsider its approach to Russia.
France’s trade with Russia has been a contentious topic since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. While the country has joined in the imposition of EU sanctions, it has also been reluctant to completely sever economic ties, citing the potential impact on French businesses and the need for continued dialogue with Moscow. This stance has drawn criticism from some quarters, who argue that France should be doing more to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable.
The Greenpeace protest underscores the growing frustration with the perceived lack of decisive action from the French government. By targeting a prominent symbol of French leadership, the activists hope to galvanize public opinion and compel the Macron administration to take a stronger stance against Russia’s invasion and its economic consequences.
