Paris's Louvre Museum, the world's most visited cultural institution, faces an indefinite closure after staff voted to extend a strike, plunging the iconic gallery into crisis. The industrial action, which began earlier this week, protests long-standing issues of understaffing, deteriorating building conditions, and controversial management decisions.
A Heist That Exposed Critical Failings
The pressures on museum staff were dramatically intensified by a brazen crown jewels heist in October 2025. A gang stole items valued at an estimated 88 million euros (approximately $102 million) in a raid lasting less than eight minutes. The thieves used a freight lift, angle grinders, and motorbikes to execute the theft, which included a diamond-and-emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise and Empress Eugénie's pearl-and-diamond tiara.
In the aftermath, Louvre President Laurence des Cars acknowledged a "terrible failure" in security. It later emerged she only learned of a critical 2019 security audit after the robbery, prompting renewed scrutiny. France's Court of Auditors has since criticised delays in implementing a promised security overhaul.
Strike Action and Failed Negotiations
The decision to prolong the walkout was taken unanimously during a general assembly on Wednesday 17 December 2025. This followed crisis talks on Monday between union representatives and Culture Ministry officials. The ministry proposed to:
- Cancel a planned $6.7 million funding cut scheduled for 2026.
- Open new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor service staff.
- Increase staff compensation packages.
However, union officials dismissed these measures as insufficient, leading to the strike's continuation. With the museum already closed on Tuesday for its weekly shutdown, Reuters confirmed it would remain closed until further notice. Confused visitors holding tickets were left queuing outside as management assessed whether it could open safely.
Mounting Pressure on Leadership
The French government has taken emergency steps, assigning Philippe Jost—who oversaw the Notre Dame restoration—to help reorganise the museum's security. Last month, the Culture Ministry announced new anti-intrusion measures.
Des Cars, who has spoken of an "institutional failure", was scheduled to appear before the Senate's culture committee later on Wednesday as lawmakers probe the security lapses. The stolen jewels from the October robbery have not been recovered, casting a long shadow over one of the world's premier cultural landmarks and leaving its future accessibility in doubt.
