Louvre Director Resigns After Crown Jewels Heist

Laurence des Cars, the Louvre’s first female president, resigned on Tuesday, less than five months after a high-profile theft raised questions about the museum’s security. She submitted her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who appointed her in 2021; the president’s office said he accepted it as “an act of responsibility” while the museum completes major security and modernization projects.

The resignation came a day before she was due to testify before Parliament about the theft of a collection of jewels valued at more than $100 million. Her departure leaves the “Louvre — New Renaissance” refurbishment in flux; the project, championed by Mr. Macron, has drawn criticism over its cost and proposed changes to the museum’s layout.

Ms. des Cars’s tenure was hit by a string of setbacks: labor strikes, water damage to antique books, the forced closure of a gallery after structural problems were found, a ticket-fraud scheme that cost the museum nearly $12 million, and security lapses that culminated in the October heist.

France

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