French Auditors Criticize Louvre Management Over Spending and Security
France’s top auditors sharply criticized the Louvre Museum’s management on Thursday for allocating millions of euros to high-profile exhibitions and costly acquisitions, instead of focusing on improving security and the upkeep of the historic building.
Nearly three weeks after thieves stole €90 million worth of precious jewels from the Paris museum, the Cour des comptes (Court of Auditors), France’s public spending watchdog, published its report covering Louvre operations from 2018 to 2024.
“The theft of the Crown Jewels is, without a doubt, a deafening wake-up call,” said Pierre Moscovici, a senior member of the committee. “The management prioritised visible and attractive operations at the expense of the maintenance and renovation of buildings and technical installations, particularly those relating to safety and security.”
Details of the Theft
On 19 October, four individuals used a basket lift to cut through a window in the Galerie d’Apollon shortly after the museum opened. They escaped with treasures, including Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and sapphires once worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Hortense de Beauharnais.
Two suspects—a 38-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man—were charged on 1 November in connection with the theft.
Summary
The Louvre faces serious scrutiny for prioritizing costly exhibitions over security, exposing critical vulnerabilities that led to a major jewel heist.