The Louvre museum's security chief has been accused of being a diversity hire who put the "cultural heritage" of France at risk following the theft of "priceless" jewellery.
Dominique Buffin has worked as Director of Public Reception and Surveillance at the Paris museum since last year.
But Ms Buffin, who has previously worked in the police and at France's Ministry of Culture, has been accused of being hired by museum director Laurence Des Cars as part of a "feminisation policy".
The pair have both faced calls to resign over the brazen heist at the museum on Sunday, which saw a number of French crown jewels stolen.
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Marion Maréchal, member of the European Parliament and niece of ex-leader of the National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, said France has become the "laughingstock of the world" because of the "ridiculous theft".
She wrote to X: "This humiliation cannot go unanswered: Rachida Dati must demand the immediate resignation of the museum's director Laurence Des Cars and the security chief Dominique Buffin, whom she appointed - Le Monde was delighted - as part of a feminisation policy.
"Evidently, at the cost of forgoing competence and endangering the cultural heritage of our Nation."
Jordan Bardella, the now president of National Rally, branded the heist at the world's most visited museum an "intolerable humiliation".
Dominique Buffin has been accused of being hired by museum director Laurence Des Cars as part of a 'feminisation policy'
|LOUVRE MUSEUM
He said: "The Louvre is a global symbol of our culture.
"This heist, which allowed thieves to steal the Crown Jewels of France, is an intolerable humiliation for our country.
"How far will the decay of the State go?"
France ordered a security review at the Louvre and checks at other cultural sites on Monday following the break-in, which saw a crane used to smash an upstairs window before eight items of jewellery - described by French interior minister Laurent Nunez as "priceless" - were taken.
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The Louvre remains closed following the heist on Sunday
|REUTERS/BENOIT TESSIER
The stolen goods included a tiara and earring from the set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, of the early 19th century.
Justice Minister Gerard Darmanin told local radio: "What is certain is that we failed.
"Someone was capable of putting a crane truck in the open in the streets of Paris, to have people walk up for a couple of minutes and take priceless jewels and give France a deplorable image."
The Culture and Interior Ministers agreed in an emergency meeting to investigate what went wrong and to strengthen security measures where necessary at cultural institutions across the nation.
A tiara worn by French Empress Eugenie was among the items stolen by thieves during a heist at Paris' Louvre Museum
|REUTERS/LOUVRE MUSEUM
"For too long we have looked into the security of visitors but not the security of artworks," Culture Minister Rachida Dati told local media.
She added that she was hoping to put in place shortcuts to public procurement rules to speed up security enhancements in museums.
Art investigator Arthur Brand also raised concerns that "something was wrong" with security at the museum.
He said: "If you target the Louvre, the most important museum in the world, and then get away with the French crown jewels, something was wrong with security."
Mr Brand described the heist as "the theft of the decade", Sky News reports.
A manhunt continues to find four masked burglars believed to be behind the heist.
The Louvre had 8.7 million visitors in 2024 and is home to artworks such as the Mona Lisa.
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