French President Hollande has a $11,000-a-month barber
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE: France's President Francois Hollande smoothes down his hair during a news conference in New York. (Reuters)
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 $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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.