Hollande in hot water for €10,000 monthly hairdressing bill

The publication of French president Francois Hollande's contract with his hairdresser has reignited old sparks over extravagant spending within Elysée Palace

14 July 2016, 9:52am

1 min read

Francois Hollande's modest combover costs the French public almost €10,000 a month

French president Francois Hollande is at the centre of an scandal dubbed "coiffeurgate" after the weekly French paper Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that his personal hairdresser is on contract for almost €10,000 a month on the public’s dime.

The publication of the contract with the hairdresser, named as Olivier B, has reportedly sparked a commotion over extravagant spending by a Socialist president.

“I can understand the questions, I can understand that there are judgments,” said the government spokesman Stephane Le Foll as he confirmed the hairdresser’s salary of €9,895 a month.

“Everyone has their hair done, don’t they?” said Le Foll. “This hairdresser had to abandon his salon and he’s on tap 24 hours a day.”

The Canard Enchaîné reported that in addition to his salary, Hollande’s hairdresser was entitled to a housing allowance and other family benefits. He never had a stand-in to replace him and demands on him were so tough that he had “missed the births of his children”.

The outrage from politicians was matched only by the fast-trending Twitter hashtag #CoiffeurGate in which people offered their ideas for radical new styles that might provide Hollande with more value for money, adding the president’s face to iconic pictures with particular hairstyles.

#CoiffeurGate reactions like this are just brilliant! https://t.co/H4y0cxmYMu
— Daniel F (@DanielsEuroSky) July 14, 2016

For all you frenchies, obviously... #CoiffeurGate pic.twitter.com/3r7Vp2fkSI
— Simon B-Gabrielsen (@ZenithPicture) July 13, 2016

For €9895 a month I would at least demand something a bit more spectacular #CoiffeurGate. Something like: pic.twitter.com/3pX0PiaOKK
— Henrik Josefsson (@hjsfn) July 13, 2016

But the row is said to have annoyed even Hollande’s party. Heavy spending at the Elysée Palace has been a key political issue for years, according to the Guardian.

However, the government spokesman was quick to point out that the operational budget of the Elysée was cut by 15-20% after Hollande.