Paris Picasso museum sacks chief over crisis with staff

The head of Paris' Picasso museum was sacked on Tuesday as a looming staff revolt and a disputed renovation threatened the long-delayed reopening of the world's largest collection of the Spanish artist's works, Reuters reported.

Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti took the rare decision of firing Anne Baldassari after inspectors found the museum in crisis with "deep suffering and an anxious environment threatening workers", her ministry said in a statement.

French authorities have also been keen to make peace with Pablo Picasso's descendents after his son accused them of dishonoring the artist by frequently delaying the reopening of the museum, which has been closed since 2009. 

Housing nearly 300 of Picasso's paintings, the museum in a 17th century mansion in central Paris was due to re-open in June after a 52-million-euro ($71.3-million) refurbishment.

However, the Culture Ministry has said it had no choice but to push the reopening back to mid-September, which means the museum will miss out on the peak summer tourist season. 

Read more here>>>