Marseille Suspends Participation in Mucem Governance Board

The City of Marseille suspended its participation in the governing board of the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations on November 9, awaiting measures to calm a bitter labor dispute triggered by the contested return of its president.

Pierre-Olivier Costa resumed his duties on November 1, leading the Marseille-based museum known as the Mucem. He had been suspended from his role late in June following allegations of toxic management, moral harassment, and sexual harassment. He denies all accusations.

The municipal government stepped back from the board after learning of his reinstatement. Gwenaël Richerolle, the deputy mayor in charge of cultural facilities, wrote a letter on November 5 to Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard. The city official expressed astonishment that Costa returned without prior information to the administrators and other stakeholders of the museum.

The municipal administration pointed to a lack of transparency regarding internal warnings. The deputy mayor noted that no information reached officials concerning the follow-up given to multiple internal reports, nor about measures taken to resolve the entrenched social conflict alongside labor unions.

Museum employees reacted swiftly to the leadership change. Staff members voted to launch a renewable strike starting November 2. Because Costa did not physically return to the museum premises during those initial days, agents decided to temporarily suspend their walkout while threatening to resume it the moment he stepped foot back on the site.

Regulatory and judicial investigations preceded the current standoff. The General Inspectorate for Cultural Affairs launched an inquiry into conditions creating widespread distress within the institution, while a separate criminal investigation opened following a formal legal notification from the Ministry of Culture under article 40 of the code of criminal procedure.

Costa stated in an internal message sent to museum staff on November 1, that he remained innocent of what he termed inept accusations directed against him, noting he has not yet been questioned by authorities regarding the case.