This year, the federal government spent around €167,000 on hairdressers and make-up artists. The foreign ministry, headed by Annalena Baerbock of the Green Party, was the biggest spender with €99,000, according to the federal government’s answer to a question from the parliamentary group of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, as quoted by by the Junge Freiheit newspaper.
The article highlights that the Green minister’s hairdressing and make-up visits have cost more than all other ministries combined. Ms Baerbock is followed by the Federal Chancellery with €23,000 and Lisa Paus of the Greens, from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, with €21,000. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs has produced the smallest bill. In Robert Habeck’s ministry, hair and make-up cost taxpayers „only” €550.
Interestingly, the ministers of justice, agriculture, health, digital affairs and education have spent nothing on hairdressers and make-up artists.
So far, the Social Democratic ministers have run up a bill of €37, with the four ministries led by the the third member of the governing coalition – the Liberal Party (FDP) – which appears to be the most taxpayer-friendly. Only the federal finance ministry led by Christian Lindner has paid €1,800.
Former chancellors can also receive haircuts and get their make-up done from taxpayers’ money. This year, according to the federal government, the cost of hiring a freelance assistant for make-up and hairdressing was €29,000. The appearance of former Christian Democrat Chancellor Angela Merkel costs taxpayers around three thousand euros a month, the federal government said in August.
V4NA