Louvre museum heist: what does it say about France?
Several priceless pieces of jewellery were stolen from the Louvre in Paris on Sunday. The thieves, who have yet to be identified, broke into the museum using a truck with a vehicle-mounted ladder and stole several pieces of jewellery belonging to the Napoleon collection in a matter of minutes. For commentators, the robbery says a lot about the state of France.
The crown jewels are lost
La Vanguardia describes a country in turmoil:
“The French Republic has been deprived of some of its crown jewels, a symbol of French greatness. ... This incident is a metaphor for France's current state of confusion as it struggles to find its role in the world. ... Many French people are wondering how the government can protect them when it can't even protect their heritage. The French state, which in the past had proven to be not only powerful but also effective, is stumbling. Public debt remains out of control and prime ministers who try to curb spending fall over one after another like dominoes.”
France does not deserve this
Pravda notes with sympathy:
“France is in shock. There is talk of the country's museums and galleries lacking proper protection and being very vulnerable. Macron promises that the thieves will be tracked down. This is an attack on French heritage, mockery of a proud European nation with a rich culture. And of the city on the Seine, which welcomes with open arms millions of visitors from around the world who come to breathe in the atmosphere of freedom and admire its beauty. The French did not deserve this.”
Only appreciated now they are gone
Spectacular robberies like this tend to change the way we view the stolen objects, writes Die Zeit:
“Until now, it was above all connoisseurs who knew about the stolen jewellery, its historical relevance and artistic value. Very few visitors strayed into the Galerie d'Apollon, the magnificent hall where the crown jewels from the estates of Napoleon and other kings and emperors are kept. But now, after the theft, they are in the spotlight. Their absence makes them omnipresent, and it's only thanks to the crime that they are appreciated and missed. What a disgrace.”