Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is regularly accompanied on trips by a freelance hairdresser at taxpayers’ expense, with some criticizing the expenditures, including the Taxpayers’ Association.
Merkel’s professional assistant for cosmetics and hairdressing is from Berlin, and the woman is also utilized for Merkel’s non-public appointments as well. The Chancellor’s Office describes the payments as “necessary expenses.”
The information was obtained by German newspaper Tagesspiegel, which was released according to the Freedom of Information Act (IFG). The assistant regularly accompanies the 68-year-old Merkel on trips, and according to her website, she also includes former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of the Social Democrats among her clients. It is unclear if he pays for her services out of pocket or taxpayers are also footing his bill.
The Federal Chancellery stated that the services of a makeup artist “are incurred in connection with appointments for the performance of continuing official duties,” and argued that they are “necessary expenses” that adhere to the federal budget code, which allows for services associated with officials performing their duties.
However, the office of the former chancellor would not provide details about how the services are delivered and no information was provided about how much the services have cost taxpayers so far. The report stated that the Chancellor’s Office cited “business and trade secrets” of the cosmetic assistant in withholding that information.
However, according to a report from Welt, the president of the Taxpayers’ Association, Reiner Holznagel, does not believe such services should be made available to public officials, especially those who are no longer serving as chancellor.
“It is hard to explain to taxpayers that they should also pay for makeup artists and hairstylists for politicians,” he said. He argues that such services should be cut or “reduced to the bare minimum and, in case of doubt, paid privately.”
Merkel also continues to enjoy a substantial pension, earning €15,000 every month.
Earlier this year, press reports that showed a number of German officials, including German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and German Economy Robert Habeck, were spending enormous sums of money on personal photographers and makeup assistants.
The news comes at a time when Germans continue to see punishing rent, food, and housing inflation.
