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 management.” Next week, they will hear 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 of the museum” and “a denial of risks,” said LR deputy Alexandre Portier, president of this museum security commission established in early December following the October 19 burglary.
Taking stock halfway through their work after over 70 hearings, the deputy and the rapporteur of the commission, Alexis Corbière (former LFI), criticized the museum’s management, which has been in turmoil since the theft of jewels from the French Crown and a series of recent breakdowns. “It’s striking to see that the Louvre has become a state within the state,” said Alexandre Portier, adding that the museum operates as if it “does 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 existence of “an over-presidency that does not exist in other institutions” and would be responsible for delaying the implementation of a security directorate scheme.
“Clearly, there is a list of failures that would have led to a departure in many countries and institutions long ago,” said the deputy. Following the burglary, Laurence des Cars, appointed in 2021 by President Emmanuel Macron, offered her resignation, which was rejected by the Minister of Culture.
Both deputies also criticized the Ministry of Culture, stating that it had not sufficiently played its supervisory role. Minister Rachida Dati, departing from the government to run for mayor of Paris, will have to explain this before the inquiry commission on Monday afternoon.
“It is very clear that the Ministry of Culture must take back control of the management,” said Alexandre Portier, emphasizing the need for strong control and management of the museum. He also criticized the shift towards prioritizing spectacle and festivity over accountability in public funding.
The staff at the Louvre, engaged in a mobilization for better working conditions since mid-December, have maintained their strike notice without voting for a new strike on Thursday. The museum management stated that the museum had “partially reopened,” without further details.
