France has appointed a new leader for one of its most visible cultural bridges with the Arab world, the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris, following the resignation of its long-time president Jack Lang in connection with the Epstein affair. The move comes as the institute faces financial challenges and debate over its future role.
Anne-Claire Legendre, a 46-year-old diplomat who advises President Emmanuel Macron on North Africa and the Middle East, was put forward on Tuesday by Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to become the first woman to head the institute. She would replace Lang, 86, a former culture minister who had led the organisation for 13 years.
