• The Louvre Museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, has resigned following a major jewel theft.
• Thieves stole €88 million worth of crown jewels in October, leading to intense scrutiny.
• French President Emmanuel Macron praised des Cars' resignation as a necessary act of responsibility.
• The museum has faced multiple crises, including security failures and staff strikes.
• Des Cars offered her resignation shortly after the heist, which was initially refused.

The director of the Louvre Museum in Paris, Laurence des Cars, has resigned, months after a high-profile jewel heist where thieves made off with an estimated €88 million worth of crown jewels. This incident, described as a "tragic, brutal, violent reality," prompted intense scrutiny and criticism, leading many to question the museum's security and management practices, according to BBC and Le Monde.

French President Emmanuel Macron accepted des Cars’ resignation, which he labeled as "an act of responsibility." He expressed the need for the Louvre to refocus on security upgrades and modernization, amidst ongoing strikes and calls for better working conditions that have plagued the museum since the heist in October, according to Reuters and NPR.

Following the robbery, which took less than eight minutes and was marked by glaring security failures, four suspects have been arrested but the stolen jewels remain missing. The aftermath of the heist has led to multiple investigations, including one into a decade-long ticket fraud scheme that reportedly cost the museum an additional €10 million, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.

Des Cars, who had been in her position since 2021, offered her resignation on the day of the robbery but was refused. Her resignation comes amid increasing criticism over the museum's handling of security and infrastructure, especially as the tourist season surges, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.