Laurence des Cars, president-director of the Louvre Museum, made her first public media appearance since the shocking burglary that rocked the world's most visited museum. Speaking on France Info radio on Friday morning, she defended her security record while acknowledging the museum's vulnerabilities following the theft of Crown Jewels valued at 88 million euros and a scathing report from France's Court of Auditors.
"I have taken full measure of our security problems," des Cars declared during the interview, her first public statement since the high-profile heist that has dominated French headlines. The museum director announced that the Louvre's comprehensive security plan, referred to as the "master plan" for safety equipment, was being implemented immediately to address the glaring vulnerabilities exposed by the October 19 break-in.
The Court of Auditors delivered a devastating critique of the prestigious Parisian museum on Thursday, accusing institution leadership of prioritizing "visible and attractive operations" at the expense of fundamental security measures. The report highlighted systemic failures that allowed criminals to successfully infiltrate one of the world's most famous cultural institutions and escape with priceless artifacts that remain missing.
Des Cars specifically addressed the museum's video surveillance system, which she acknowledged represents "one of the weak points" of the facility's security infrastructure. The comprehensive security improvement plan encompasses "a whole series of improvement works, particularly in terms of video surveillance," she explained, referencing concerns she had previously raised during her testimony before the Senate Culture Committee in late October.
Pushing back against the auditors' harsh assessment, des Cars argued that the Court of Auditors "is wrong to be so severe." While acknowledging that security represents an "absolutely central problem," she maintained that it is not "the only problem facing the Louvre." The director emphasized her commitment to what she described as the essential transformation needed to modernize the historic institution.
"I think they are wrong to be so severe," des Cars stated. "I have applied these priorities because I think the French people are very attached to enriching their heritage." She expressed gratitude for the continued confidence placed in her leadership despite calls for her resignation following the security breach.
The museum director convened an emergency board of directors meeting on Friday to comprehensively review the governance structure of the world's most visited museum. This urgent session comes as the institution faces unprecedented scrutiny over security failures that allowed perpetrators to successfully steal Crown Jewels worth tens of millions of euros.
Four suspects have been formally charged and imprisoned in connection with the October 19 heist, though the stolen jewels worth 88 million euros remain unrecovered. The brazen theft has exposed significant vulnerabilities in the museum's security systems and raised serious questions about resource allocation priorities.
According to the Court of Auditors report, between 2018 and 2024, the Louvre allocated 26.7 million euros to maintenance work and regulatory compliance upgrades, while spending significantly more - 105.4 million euros - on artwork acquisitions. This spending disparity became a central point of criticism in the auditors' assessment of the museum's priorities.
However, des Cars defended the institution's comprehensive approach, arguing that "the Louvre is a whole" in which "maintenance work should not be opposed to artwork acquisitions or welcoming all audiences." She insisted that the museum has "ensured all of our missions" despite the security challenges that have now been thrust into the spotlight.
The director, who has held her position since September 2021, emphasized her commitment to the museum's transformation, stating: "I want to thank those who have confidence in me to lead the transformation of the Louvre, which more than ever needs transformation and modernization to fully become a 21st-century museum. Which it is not today." Her resignation had been refused following the theft, allowing her to continue leading the institution through this crisis.
The Louvre heist represents part of a broader trend of increasing thefts targeting French museums, with similar incidents reported in Limoges, Mialet, and Sarran. This pattern has raised national concerns about cultural institution security and prompted discussions about enhanced protective measures across France's museum network.
As the investigation continues and the stolen Crown Jewels remain missing, the Louvre faces the challenge of rebuilding public confidence while implementing comprehensive security reforms. The emergency governance review and immediate implementation of enhanced security measures represent the first steps in what promises to be a lengthy process of institutional reform and modernization.
