The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has officially resigned from her position following a series of high-profile security breaches and operational failures.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing international media outlets, that the resignation comes in the wake of a massive robbery in October 2025, persistent security vulnerabilities, infrastructure decay, and recurring labor strikes.
French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of Laurence des Cars. Christophe Leribot, the current director of the Palace of Versailles, is widely expected to succeed her and lead the world's most visited museum through its current crisis.
The museum's reputation has been severely impacted by several incidents over the past year. In October, jewelry valued at 88 million euros was stolen from the collection and remains unrecovered. During the heist, the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was reportedly damaged. Furthermore, internal labor disputes regarding wages and working conditions have led to frequent strikes and operational shutdowns. In mid-February, a pipe burst near the iconic Mona Lisa, resulting in water damage to rare books. Additionally, a sophisticated ticket fraud scheme that cost the museum approximately 10 million euros was recently uncovered by authorities.
The Louvre Museum, located in Paris, is a global cultural landmark housing thousands of years of human history, including the world-famous Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. As a state-owned institution, its leadership is appointed directly by the French presidency. The incoming administration will face the significant challenge of modernizing the museum's aging infrastructure and restoring international confidence in its security protocols to protect its priceless heritage.
