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Protesters denounce TotalEnergies' public backing, demand higher taxes
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

Protesters denounce TotalEnergies' public backing, demand higher taxes

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Four environmental NGOs protested outside TotalEnergies headquarters in Paris, denouncing public support for the oil company.
  • Activists criticized France for complicity with TotalEnergies, citing its fossil fuel activities and public funding despite climate goals.
  • The protest coincided with TotalEnergies' annual general meeting, amid calls for the company to pay more taxes on its significant profits.

Environmental activists gathered outside TotalEnergies' Paris headquarters on May 29, 2026, to protest the French government's public support for the oil and gas giant. The demonstration, organized by groups including 350, Attac, Avaaz, and Climate Justice Action, occurred just before the company's annual general meeting.

France is complicit in fact with a multinational whose activities go against all the recommendations of scientists and against the international commitments made in Dubai in 2023 (COP28) to move away from fossil fuels.

— Fanny PetitbonFanny Petitbon, head of the 350 association for France, speaking to EFE about the protest and TotalEnergies' activities.

Protesters, many dressed in work overalls and hard hats, held a symbolic pipeline and carried banners demanding higher taxes on TotalEnergies' profits. Some wore masks of French President Emmanuel Macron and TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné, distributing fake money. The demonstration was part of an international campaign targeting multinational corporations.

Fanny Petitbon of 350 criticized France for being "complicit" with TotalEnergies, whose activities she stated contradict scientific recommendations and international climate commitments. She highlighted that the company receives public funds through the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and financing from other banks for its oil and gas ventures. "France finances and protects a multinational that plunders land in Uganda, Tanzania, or Mozambique for more profit," Petitbon said.

France finances and protects a multinational that plunders land in Uganda, Tanzania or Mozambique for more profit.

— Fanny PetitbonFanny Petitbon of 350 criticized the use of public funds and bank financing for TotalEnergies' business.

Activists also condemned the French government for not taxing TotalEnergies' "indecent profits," pointing to the company's $5.8 billion earnings in the first quarter of the year, a 51% increase from the previous year. The protest occurred as TotalEnergies faces political pressure to increase its tax contributions in France, despite most of its profits coming from abroad. The company has responded to rising oil and gas prices, exacerbated by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, by capping fuel prices at its French service stations.

The French government does not have the courage to tax TotalEnergies which has absolutely indecent profits.

— Fanny PetitbonFanny Petitbon commented on the company's significant profits and the lack of taxation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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