French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of Laurence des Cars, the director of the Louvre, following a high-profile theft at the museum. In a statement, Macron characterized her decision as an “act of responsibility” during a period when the Louvre requires stability and renewed vigor to execute critical projects such as security enhancements and modernization efforts.
In a daring heist that captivated the world, thieves managed to abscond with €88 million (approximately $146.8 million) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre in a mere eight minutes. The incident, which occurred in October, sent shockwaves through the art and security communities.
Appointed to the esteemed position of director in 2021, des Cars has been at the helm of the world’s most visited museum. Following the robbery, she immediately offered her resignation, but it was initially declined by the culture minister. Reflecting on the event, des Cars remarked in November, “I saw a tragic, brutal, violent reality for the Louvre, and as the person in charge, after all the hard work done by the teams that day – it felt right to offer my resignation.”
Macron expressed his gratitude towards des Cars for her dedication and contributions during her tenure. He also indicated that she would be tasked with a new mission aimed at fostering collaboration among major museums, highlighting the continued value of her expertise.
“I saw a tragic, brutal, violent reality for the Louvre, and as the person in charge, after all the hard work done by the teams that day â it felt right to offer my resignation,” she said in November.
Macron thanked des Cars for “her work and commitment” and said he wanted to give her a new mission focused on cooperation among major museums, the statement said.
It didn’t say if she accepted.
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