French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot began a series of meetings on Monday with three candidates to run the Arab World Institute in Paris, according to what the French news agency revealed. This comes with the resignation of the institute's former director, Jack Lang, against the backdrop of his name appearing in files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Published on: 02/16/2026 - 16:16 Last updated: 02/16/2026 - 17:17
Agence France-Presse reported that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met on Monday with three “candidates” to run the Arab World Institute in Paris after the resignation of its director, Jack Lange, whose name was mentioned in Epstein’s files.
Sources close to the minister reported that “he met today (Monday) with three selected candidates.”
Informed sources revealed that the candidates were chosen “from among several automatic nominations” to run the ancient institution, including Anne-Claire Logandere, the current advisor for North Africa and the Middle East in the diplomatic cell in the presidential palace, and Karim Amalal, the former ambassador for Mediterranean affairs.
Read also: The Epstein case: The headquarters of the Arab World Institute in Paris was raided as part of the investigation targeting Jack Lang
The third candidate is Olivier Poivre Darfur, the ambassador in charge of the Arctic regions and maritime affairs, according to informed sources.
It is expected that the French state will propose a new president for the institute on Tuesday during a meeting of its board of directors.
This comes after an investigation was opened in France on February 6 against suspicions of “covering up tax fraud under aggravating circumstances” targeting Jack Lang, the former Socialist Minister, and his daughter Caroline.
No charges have yet been brought against Lang (86 years old), who stepped down from his position under pressure on February 7.
His name was mentioned in documents circulated by the US Department of Justice 673 times in the context of correspondence with the sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein. The exchanges revealed relationships based on interests between them.
France 24/AFP
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