French lawmakers Alexis Corbière and Alexandre Portier, leading the inquiry into the startling jewel heist at the Louvre on October 19, 2025, have raised concerns regarding the museum's security protocols. Their investigation suggests that the Louvre may have prioritized its reputation over the safety of its priceless artifacts.
The recently published parliamentary report questions the ambitious $1 billion renovation plan proposed by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2025, which aimed to usher in a "new renaissance" for the museum, renowned as the most-visited art institution globally.
This scrutiny follows revelations from a leaked memo by Laurence de Cars, the former Louvre director, who highlighted significant deterioration in museum conditions. Both de Cars and Culture Minister Rachida Dati resigned earlier this year, following the heist that saw thieves make off with nine pieces of jewelry valued at around $102 million in less than eight minutes.
According to Le Figaro, the report, compiled after extensive interviews with over 100 stakeholders, indicates that security concerns had been consistently overlooked. Despite previous audits in 2017 and 2019 that identified vulnerabilities, necessary upgrades to security measures were not executed promptly.
The commission's findings emphasize that security had been "pushed to the background," which ultimately contributed to the heist occurring in broad daylight. The 2019 audit had called for a comprehensive Security Equipment Master Plan, yet this was not effectively implemented by de Cars's predecessor, Jean-Luc Martinez.
Corbière and Portier propose several reforms to enhance security at the Louvre. They advocate for a new governance structure where museum directors would be elected by a board that includes lawmakers, rather than appointed by presidential decree. Additionally, they recommend increasing the initial funding of the newly established Security Fund from its current $35 million to better address security needs and enhancing staffing within the Ministry of Culture's Security, Safety, and Audit mission.
This investigation and the proposed changes underscore a pivotal moment for the Louvre, as it seeks to balance its cultural prestige with the imperative of safeguarding its invaluable collections. The outcomes of this scrutiny could set a precedent for security practices in cultural institutions worldwide.