Cologne's Iconic Mouse Statue Taken in Protest Against Public Broadcasting Cuts

The disappearance of the beloved statue sparked a police investigation, revealing a political campaign by Campact against proposed budget cuts to German public broadcasters.

The police are investigating the removal of the mouse statue from outside WDR's offices in Cologne, initially suspected as theft.
Campaign group Campact admitted to taking the statue as a protest against planned cuts to public broadcasting services like ARD and ZDF.
The statue, a popular photo spot, was moved to Mainz and is set to tour other German cities before returning to Cologne later this week.
WDR expressed concern over the statue's use in political campaigns, emphasizing the need for its return to avoid disappointing young fans.
The protest coincides with ongoing discussions among state leaders about the future funding and structure of public broadcasting in Germany.