Macron wax figure from the Paris Museum for Anti-Russ Protest

Macron wax figure from the Paris Museum for Anti-Russ Protest

activists from Greenpeace set up a statue of French President Emmanuel Macron in front of the Russian embassy in Paris on Monday. The aim of this campaign is to protest against the ongoing business relationships between France and Russia and against Macron's climate policy.

protest in front of the Russian message

The activists said they had "loaned" the statue of Macron at 10:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. et) from the Grévin Museum in the center of Paris. The museum houses wax figures of more than 200 public personalities. In their communication, they emphasized: "He does not deserve to be issued in this worldwide renowned cultural institution, as long as he did not end French contracts with Russia and initiated an ambitious and sustainable ecological turn in Europe."

Criticism of trade relationships with Russia

The activists placed the statue in front of banners who criticized the continued trade relationships with Moscow in areas such as gas, nuclear power and chemical fertilizers. One of the activists held a sign with the inscription "Shops are shops" behind the statue, which shows a smiling Macron who claps his hands. Another banner warned: "Ukraine is burning, business continues."

France's role in the energy transition

Despite the promise to end the dependence on Russian energies, European countries have difficulty setting imports of products such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). According to research from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), France in January was the largest importer of Russian fossil fuels within the European Union, with LNG imports worth a total of 377 million euros ($ 430 million).

continuing criticism of nuclear power

Greenpeace also criticized the continuation of contracts on the import of nuclear fabrics associated with the Russian atomic agency Rosatom. Roger Spautz, energy transition fighter at Greenpeace France, said in the message: "Emmanuel Macron has to give up his nuclear power revival. On this course, it means to maintain dangerous dependence on enemy regimes such as Russia and to continue to finance the industry of a criminal regime."

call to a change

In the communication, it continues: "There is no sovereignty, no energy transfer and no peace with Vladimir Putin's uranium. It is time to end this double morality and to complete the chapter at nuclear power once and for all." Greenpeace criticized Macron's "double morality", who are not sufficiently contributing to ending trade with Russia, even though he publicly expresses strong support for Ukraine.

weakening of French credibility

"This ambivalent attitude weakens France's credibility on the international stage and fills the war treasury of the Kremlin," added the organization.

CNN asked Greenpeace for more information where the statue is currently located and whether it is returned to the museum. The Grévin Museum and Macron's office were also asked for a statement.