French President Hollande Criticized For $11,000 Monthly Haircut Budget

France's President Francois Hollande, looks on after he bade farewell to Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. The Swedish Royal couple is in France fo... France's President Francois Hollande, looks on after he bade farewell to Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. The Swedish Royal couple is in France for a three-day state visit. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) MORE LESS
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PARIS (AP) — French President Francois Hollande is facing a scandal over the exorbitant price of his haircuts.

The revelations that the Socialist leader — elected on a populist mandate of taxing the super-wealthy — spends nearly 10,000 euros ($11,000) a month on his presidential barber has been dubbed #Coiffeurgate. Hollande, 61, is not known for having unusually difficult hair.

The scandal further mars the image of the historically unpopular Hollande as he tries to show a dignified front Thursday on Bastille Day, the country’s national holiday, while greeting the public. It also deepens his uphill struggle to recapture the Elysee palace in next May’s general election.

The original story by the Le Canard Enchaine newspaper was confirmed Wednesday by French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, who tried to defend his boss.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. Hollande, 61, is not known for having unusually difficult hair.

    Or much hair at all for that matter.

  2. That barber must charge by the follicle.

  3. Wow!!! He must be paying for something other than a haircut.

  4. Avatar for paulw paulw says:

    Makes Bill Clinton look like a pennypincher. (Anyone else remember HaircutGate?)

  5. That guy would do wonders for Trump !

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