French President Emmanuel Macron's Middle East and North Africa adviser Anne-Claire Legendre has been named as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris, following the resignation of longtime chair Jack Lang over his links to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Legendre is the first woman to lead the prestigious cultural institution.

Issued on: 18/02/2026 - 09:03

An adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron was named on Tuesday as head of the Arab World Institute in Paris, after its previous boss stepped down over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Anne-Claire Legendre, 46, will replace veteran ex-culture minister Jack Lang who resigned earlier this month over his and his family's exchanges with child sex offender Epstein.

Her appointment comes a day after French police raided the Paris cultural centre as part of investigations into Lang's alleged financial ties to Epstein.

Lang, 86, is the most high-profile public figure in France caught up in the latest bundle of Epstein's private messages released by the US Justice Department.

He has denied wrongdoing and mentions in the files do not imply wrongdoing.

Watch moreFormer French minister Jack Lang resigns over Epstein-linked tax fraud probe

An investigation by the Mediapart website concluded Lang solicited money from Epstein, while his film producer daughter co-owned a company with him in a tax haven and appeared in Epstein's will.

They are now the targets of a criminal investigation into potential money laundering and tax evasion.

Legendre has served as Macron's diplomatic adviser for North Africa and the Middle East since 2023.

The Arab World Institute ("Institut du Monde Arabe") promotes Arab culture from its Left Bank headquarters that frequently host some of the capital's most talked-about exhibitions.

The Paris prosecutor's office on Saturday announced that it was setting up a special team of magistrates to analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals in the crimes of the convicted sex offender Epstein.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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