Other priorities over security: French audit office publishes report on Louvre

France’s audit office reported that the Louvre prioritized acquisitions over security, leaving fire safety plans incomplete for 20 years and lagging in camera installations, Euronews writes.

The Cour des Comptes report criticized the museum’s investment priorities under director Laurence des Cars and her immediate predecessor Jean-Luc Martinez, for allegedly favoring projects attractive to patrons and media over modernizing the Louvre’s security.

The report said the “New Renaissance” project exceeded €1 billion to create an additional entrance and excavate rooms for the Mona Lisa. Also, the fire safety master plan has remained incomplete for more than 20 years after implementation.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati unveiled the General Inspectorate of Cultural Affairs’ initial findings last Friday, revealing “chronic, structural underestimation of the risk of intrusion and theft,” “under-equipped security systems,” “inappropriate” governance and “totally obsolete” protocols.

The robbery at the world’s most visited museum took place on Oct. 19. The stolen jewelry was not insured; the museum estimates the damage at 88 million euros.