Anne-Claire Legendre (right) has served as President Emmanuel Macron's Middle East and North Africa adviser since 2023. 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. 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. 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.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 18, 2026 20:03 UTC