Louvre Director Resigns Amid Major Theft and Corruption Scandals

Laurence des Cars, the director of the world-renowned Louvre Museum, has officially submitted her resignation. French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the request, according to a statement from the Elysée Palace press office.
President Macron described the director’s decision as an "act of responsibility."

 He emphasized that the museum currently requires a fresh impetus focused on restoring stability and modernizing security.

"The Head of State noted that the world's largest museum needs a new impulse to implement large-scale projects in the fields of security and modernization, as well as the 'Louvre – New Renaissance' program," the official report stated.

Laurence des Cars had previously considered stepping down following a high-profile heist in October 2025. During that incident, criminals managed to bypass security and steal precious artifacts valued at 88 million euros in just seven minutes.

Initially, Culture Minister Rachida Dati declined the resignation, ordering a comprehensive administrative audit. However, the investigation's findings revealed gross negligence in the museum's security systems, making urgent leadership changes unavoidable.

The museum’s reputation was further tarnished by a sophisticated fraudulent ticket scheme. In February of this year, Paris police dismantled a criminal group selling counterfeit tickets to both the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles. Among the 10 individuals arrested were two museum employees and several tour guides.