The surprise action worked like clockwork. Two young activists suddenly undressed alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as they had their picture taken with him on Sunday to demand a Russian gas embargo.
The two women, who took advantage of the government open house held over the weekend to gain access to the German chancellor, had written “gas embargo now” on their chests, in reference to Russian gas deliveries to Germany, which continued after the invasion of Ukraine.
Despite desperately looking for another way, Germany, which relies heavily on Russian gas, has indeed been unable so far to impose a full embargo on gas from Russia.
The two activists were quickly taken away by security officials after their action which was widely commented on Twitter. “I don’t know much about you, but I was waiting to see this. You rock, FEMEN Germany! “, reacted the Ukrainian activist Inna Shevchenko.
Questioned by the public earlier on Sunday, Olaf Scholz recalled the various efforts made by Berlin to find alternative sources of energy, including liquefied natural gas, the first terminals of which, which Berlin is preparing to build, could be operational in early 2023.
“Then our supply security problem can be resolved in early 2024,” he continued. Germany, like many of its European neighbours, is set to experience energy shortages next winter.