Unions warn of security risks nearly two months after Crown Jewels theft as budget cuts fuel dispute.
On Thursday, the Louvre Museum in Paris — the world’s most visited museum, with nearly 9 million visitors a year — partially reopened, despite the decision by about 300 workers to continue for one more day the strike they began on Monday.
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Louvre Workers On Strike Over Labor Conditions and Maintenance
As on the previous day, Louvre management decided to reopen the museum to tourists, but only the sections of its facilities that house its most famous works, such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
Valeri Baud, spokesperson for the French Democratic Confederation of Labor, said reopening the Paris museum under the current conditions, nearly two months after the theft of eight French Crown jewels, puts “the security of the institution at risk.”
It is estimated that a one-day closure at the Louvre — which did not open Tuesday because it is the museum’s weekly day off — results in revenue losses of about 400,000 euros.
In a minutes-long strike inside the world’s most-visited museum, thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre’s facade, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels. Here’s what to know. pic.twitter.com/HXQD2vPh5h
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 20, 2025
Representatives of the striking workers have asked Culture Minister Rachida Dati to abandon budget cuts and are demanding that the money be allocated to museum maintenance rather than the planned renovation of the vast building, which they argue will not improve the institution’s overall conditions.
The unions have set their sights on Louvre President Laurence des Cars, whom they accuse of prioritizing large-scale events over addressing the museum’s necessary rehabilitation.
Appearing before a Senate investigative committee examining the Oct. 19 jewel theft, des Cars acknowledged Wednesday that the museum is going through a “crisis” and is suffering from “disorganization” in security matters.
The Louvre has been under intense scrutiny since that autumn Sunday. Since then, its troubles have mounted, including the closure of part of the museum because of weakened beams, the flooding of a room housing Egyptian manuscripts and now a strike.
The Louvre Museum 🇫🇷 was the scene of a historic robbery: in just seven minutes, armed thieves stole historic jewels.
⚠️ An event that calls into question the #security of one of the most visited venues in the world. pic.twitter.com/zViQwupdub
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) October 23, 2025
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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