France Louvre
FILE - Laurence des Cars, director of Le Louvre museum, poses before a hearing at the Culture commission of the Senate, three days after historic jewels were stolen in a daring daylight heist, Oct. 22, 2025 in Paris.
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French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of the Louvre Museum’s president. Laurence des Cars had been under fire in the wake of a stunning and embarrassing heist of the French crown jewels. Des Cars' resignation was announced by the presidential office in a statement on Tuesday. Macron praised des Cars’ resignation decision as “an act of responsibility at a time when the world’s largest museum needs calm and a strong new impetus to carry out major projects." Thieves took less than eight minutes in October to steal 88 million euros or $102 million worth of crown jewels.
The Louvre Museum, home of the ‘Mona Lisa,’ has a new director. Art historian Christophe Leribault, a veteran museum director, was chosen Wednesday to steer the world's largest museum out of crisis. French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon announced the appointment. Leribault takes over from outgoing Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who resigned Tuesday, four months after the brazen heist in October of the French crown jewels. The difficulties Leribault inherits are formidable. The daylight robbery exposed alarming security holes at the Paris landmark. The museum has recently also had to contend with a burst water pipe in the gallery housing the “Mona Lisa” that damaged priceless books, staff walkouts and the revelation of a ticket fraud operation.
