French President’s Personal Hairdresser Earns €9,895 Monthly

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It seems that it is possible that some Hairdresser has the same salary as a government minister. The weekly paper Le Canard Enchaîné revealed that French President’s personal hairdresser has been paid €9,895 ($11,000) per month since Mr. François Hollande was elected in 2012. The publication of the contract with the hairdresser, named as Olivier B, caused an embarrassing scandal dubbed Coiffeurgate (“coiffeur” being French for hairdresser) especially because this 61-year old Socialist promised in the campaigne that he would be a “normal” and exemplary president but who has seen his private life spill into the open on several occasions. “I can understand the questions, I can understand that there are judgments,” said the government spokesman and Hollande ally Stephane Le Foll as he confirmed the hairdresser’s salary of €9,895 (£8,265) a month. “Everyone has their hair done, don’t they?” said Le Foll, known for his own bouffant style. “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”. An “ordinary” hairdresser draws an average salary of €1450, which is way unfit on the fairness scale, but Olivier B’s salary is at par with ministers, and also the president who earns some €179,000 a year. The contract is signed until April 2017, when the president’s term ends. Just imagine.