French Law on Cultural Restitution Passes Amid Parthenon Fragments Debate

France's law on the restitution of cultural property was definitively adopted on May 7, following a final Senate vote. In an opinion piece for Le Monde, CNRS researcher Catharine Titi examines the legal and archaeological implications of this legislation, using the Parthenon fragments held at the Louvre as a case study. She argues that there is a genuine political will to change the status quo regarding the return of cultural goods. The law marks a significant shift in French policy, potentially affecting claims for artifacts from Greece and other nations.