A new charge against the Louvre: the leaders of a parliamentary inquiry commission accused the museum on Thursday of becoming a “state within the state” with “failing leadership”, and will hear next week from its president Laurence des Cars and the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati. “The theft at the Louvre is not an accident, it reveals systemic failures at the museum” and “a denial of risks,” said LR deputy Alexandre Portier, president of the museum security commission, established in early December following the October 19 burglary.
Taking stock halfway through their work after more than 70 hearings, the deputy and the rapporteur of the commission, Alexis Corbière (ex-LFI), criticized the management of the museum, which has been in turmoil since the theft of French Crown jewels and a series of recent mishaps. “What is striking is to see that the Louvre has become a state within the state,” said Alexandre Portier, adding that the museum operated as if it “did not have to be accountable for the management of public funds.”
Alexis Corbière also considered the Louvre to be “a special case” and criticized the presence at its head “of a hyper-presidency that does not exist in other institutions” and would be responsible for delaying the implementation of a security directorate.
Promising “tough questions,” Alexandre Portier announced that the commission would hear from Laurence des Cars next Wednesday, while questioning her continued tenure despite the storm. The deputy said, “Clearly, there is a list of failures that would have led in many countries and institutions to a departure long ago.” The day after the burglary, Laurence des Cars, appointed in 2021 by President Emmanuel Macron, had offered her resignation, which was then rejected by the Minister of Culture.
The two deputies also pointed their arrows at the oversight, stating that the Ministry of Culture had inadequately played its supervisory role. The Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, leaving the government to run for the mayor of Paris, will have to explain herself before the inquiry commission on Monday afternoon, announced the two responsible officials.
“Clearly, oversight, the Ministry of Culture, must take control of the management,” said Alexandre Portier, noting that about a third of the Louvre’s budget (around 300 million euros) came from public funds. According to him, there is an “urgent” need for oversight to “establish strong control and leadership” over the museum.
The personnel at the Louvre, engaged in a mobilization since mid-December for better working conditions, also maintained their strike notice without voting again for a strike. When asked, the management indicated that the museum was “partially open,” without further details.
