The world-famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was reopened with a grand ceremony in December, following its reconstruction. Now, French President Emmanuel Macron is focusing on the comprehensive renovation of the Louvre, one of the world’s most important museums.
According to Politico, Macron is shifting the spotlight to cultural affairs as he only has a few allies in the French Parliament and cannot run for a third term. By doing so, Macron aims to prove that he is not a powerless “lame duck.”
Macron has announced a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Louvre, with the goal of appealing to the sense of grandeur of the French people and the resources of the country’s wealthiest citizens, just as he did after the devastating fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa will be moved to a new room and a new entrance will be built, allowing for a direct access, Macron said while standing behind the famous masterpiece.
Politico notes that a comprehensive reconstruction could define the legacy of Macron’s term in office. The last renovation of the Louvre was carried out during the presidency of François Mitterrand (1981-1995).
Macron is aware that his influence in France has significantly decreased, according to Politico. However, he still has control over the military, foreign policy and projects that do not require parliamentary approval, like the Louvre.
Macron announced the project just a few days after the publication of an article in the daily newspaper Le Parisien, which highlighted the poor state of the museum.
In reality, the museum requires a 60-million-euro renovation, as stated in an internal Louvre report from July 2023, which Politico has obtained. The report says the museum’s equipment needs to be modernized and its infrastructure adapted to the climate change.
Macron’s initiative has come at a time when the French government is struggling to pass an unpopular budget bill, which includes tax hikes and spending cuts of 53 billion euros, according to Politico. “Many people can think it’s completely out of place to talk about a large cultural project when budget discussions are underway” Macron said.
In this regard, he emphasized that the project will not be funded by public money, but rather by the museum’s own funds, including ticket sales and private donations, which also financed the reconstruction of Notre-Dame.
Macron stated that the museum will be financed by its own means and private donors, not by public funds.
According to a person familiar with the internal affairs of the Louvre, France’s audit office is currently investigating the museum’s financial management, which received over 100 million euros in 2023. When asked by Politico where the funds for Macron’s project would come from, the museum replied that the architectural project is currently being examined and it is too early to provide details.
For the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, a total of 846 million euros was raised, including 100 million euros from billionaire François-Henri Pinault and 200 million euros from the French luxury goods group LVMH and a holding company controlled by the Arnault family, according to Politico.
In his speech, Macron did not specify who would be involved in the financing of the reconstruction. However, he emphasized that several nearby institutions would benefit from this project.