Greenpeace protests against Macron's trade ties with Russia using the wax statue
Greenpeace activists returned a wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron as a form of protest against France’s ongoing trade ties with Russia, placing it outside the EDF headquarters in Paris to draw attention to the issue.
Key Information
- Greenpeace returned the wax figure of Macron, which had been taken from the Musée Grévin.
- The action was a protest against France's trade with Russia.
- The figure was placed in front of the EDF headquarters in Paris.
On Tuesday, Greenpeace activists returned a wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron that had been removed the previous day from Paris’s Musée Grévin. The stunt was intended to spotlight France’s continued economic ties with Russia, especially in the energy sector.
The figure of Macron was placed in front of the Électricité de France (EDF) headquarters in Paris, a state-owned company responsible for supplying electricity. Jean-François Julliard, executive director of Greenpeace France, explained that the choice of this location was intended to hold Macron accountable for trade with Russia, especially in the nuclear sector.
The EDF building was marked with the slogan "Radioactive allies of Putin and Macron," underscoring Greenpeace’s message. Earlier, following the removal of the wax figure, activists had placed it in front of the Russian embassy in Paris—alongside a Russian flag and a sign that read "business is business," highlighting France's continued energy ties with Moscow.
Controversies surrounding trade with Russia
Greenpeace is protesting France’s ongoing economic ties with Russia in key sectors including gas, fertilizers, and nuclear energy. Jean-François Julliard stressed that French companies are still importing Russian goods such as enriched uranium and liquefied natural gas, despite the war in Ukraine.
Greenpeace notified both Musée Grévin management and local police about the return of the Macron wax figure. The organization emphasized that its actions were intended to spark public debate over France’s ongoing and controversial trade relations with Russia.
