France's Socialist President Pays Nearly $11,000 A Month For Haircuts

Enlarge this image toggle caption Dominique Faget /AFP/Getty Images Dominique Faget /AFP/Getty Images

French President Francois Hollande's coif — dark, thinning on top — hasn't really been a subject of conversation, until now. He's facing a scandal after it emerged that he pays a hairdresser nearly $11,000 (9,895 euros) every month.

The scandal, which has been dubbed #CoiffeurGate, was first reported by French satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine. French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll later confirmed the story and "tried to defend his boss," according to The Associated Press.

"I can understand the questions, I can understand that there are judgements," said Le Foll, as AFP reported. "Everyone has their hair done, don't they?"

The amount Hollande pays his personal hairdresser is roughly the same as a government minister's salary, according to The New York Times. The job comes with significant responsibilities: the hairdresser is "committed to secrecy and needs to be available 24/7," France 24 reported.

"He missed the birth of his children," the hairdresser's lawyer Sarah Levy told Le Canard Enchaine, according to France 24. He's been identified only as Olivier B.

The scandal has "the French public bristling over such extravagant spending by a Socialist president," as AFP reported. He faces "persistently low" approval ratings, as the Times reported, and "has been forced to agree to a primary among left-leaning parties, including his own Socialists, to settle on a candidate for president next year — a first for a sitting president."

Hollande's former partner Valérie Trierweiler defended him in a post on Twitter. "Let's be fair: F. Hollande was not aware of the hairdresser's salary," she said. "I can attest to his anger when he learned about it later."

Et soyons juste: F. Hollande n'était pas au courant du salaire du coiffeur. Je peux témoigner de sa colère lorsqu'il l'a su plus tard. — Valerie Trierweiler (@valtrier) July 13, 2016

Meanwhile, French citizens are posting pictures on Twitter of haircuts that they see as more worthy of such a handsome price tag. Here are a few suggestions:

Quand on flambe l'argent du contribuable on s'attend à un minimum de résultat. #CoiffeurGate pic.twitter.com/lxY7vZLezq — Patrizio Cantello (@TheOwLisWatchin) July 13, 2016

Les photos privées qui justifient le salaire du coiffeur de #Hollande sont enfin dévoilées #CoiffeurGate pic.twitter.com/6BgkpdJkkq — Sarkoziste #NS2017 (@Sarkoziste) July 13, 2016

Pour la moitié du salaire proposé je veux bien m'occuper de la coiffure de François Hollande. #CoiffeurGate pic.twitter.com/GsDmHJ8Ao6 — Rashmaninoff (@RasheedDaci) July 13, 2016

Hollande isn't the first politician to face scrutiny for the price of his personal grooming. The New York Times had this roundup of recent U.S. scandals: