Maus Statue Returned to Cologne After Protest Tour

Activists used the beloved mascot to protest against planned budget cuts to public broadcasting.

The organization Campact took the iconic 'Sendung mit der Maus' statue on a three-day tour across German cities to protest against cuts to public broadcasting services.
The protest aimed to highlight the importance of maintaining educational and informational programming by ARD and ZDF amid proposed budget cuts.
The statue traveled through cities including Mainz, Magdeburg, and Erfurt, where it was displayed as a symbol of resistance against the proposed reforms.
More than 345,000 people signed a petition against the planned reductions, which could result in the closure of several radio and TV channels.
Although the WDR expressed disapproval of the statue's use in political campaigns, no legal action was taken, and the statue was returned without damage.