Topless demonstration highlights public discontent as German chancellor faces plummeting approval ratings.

During an open-day event at the Chancellery in Berlin, two topless protesters confronted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to demand an immediate embargo on Russian gas. Their bodies bore the message “gas embargo now,” underscoring frustration with Berlin’s stance on Russian energy imports.

The demonstration occurred as Scholz posed for photographs with the public. Security swiftly removed the women from the scene.

Criticism has mounted over Scholz’s reluctance to impose a full embargo on Russian energy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While his coalition government warns that such measures could trigger severe economic repercussions, it has committed to phasing out Russian oil by the end of the year and reducing Russian gas imports by mid-2024.

The protest capped off a challenging week for the 64-year-old chancellor, who has struggled with waning public support amid rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Earlier in the week, Scholz faced heckling in Neuruppin during a speech on government measures addressing economic pressures.

Adding to the controversy, Scholz drew backlash for his delayed response during a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who accused Israel of committing “50 Holocausts.” Scholz later condemned the statement but faced criticism for not doing so immediately.

Further scrutiny emerged from Hamburg, where opposition leaders accused Scholz of withholding details about a significant tax fraud case that occurred during his tenure as the city’s mayor. Scholz denied wrongdoing, attributing gaps in his responses to memory lapses.

To compound matters, a recent poll revealed a significant decline in Scholz’s approval ratings, dropping from 46% in March to just 25% in August. Additionally, 62% of Germans now view his performance negatively, up sharply from 39% five months ago.