thieves may have acted at the behest of a collector

Before the theft, the French Court of Auditors had already criticized the Louvre’s “persistent delay” in implementing security equipment.. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged serious security flaws and said the episode projects a deplorable image of the country.

President of the museum, Laurence Des Cars, will be called upon to provide clarifications. She will be heard the day after tomorrow by the Cultural Affairs Committee of the French Senate, according to the committee’s president, Laurent Lafon, who said he wanted “explanations after the theft”.

Vulnerability of museums

Report from the Court of Auditors, obtained by AFP, points out that 75% of the rooms in the Richelieu wing and 60% in the Sully wing of the museum do not have surveillance cameras. Furthermore, the Louvre has lost 200 security officers in the last 15 years, while the number of visitors has increased by 50%.

French government announced an urgent review of security protocols in all museums in the country. CGT Cultura, a union that represents workers in the sector, demands the immediate reinforcement of personnel and investments in technology.