2023-11-09 16:47:00
How much do German politicians spend on make-up artists and stylists? This is not the first time that German MPs from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) have persistently and consistently asked the German government as part of the usual inquiry procedure. This is an important tool that allows deputies to perform their control function.
So how much? Let’s immediately highlight the top 3 most “expensive” ministries in terms of the appearance of politicians. This “rating” has been headed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for the second year in a row.
Top three in spending on appearance
According to current information published in early November, the German Foreign Minister spent almost 99 thousand euros (98,770) on makeup from January to October 2023. For the entire 2022, the head of the Foreign Ministry spent 136,552 euros. If we make a forecast, we can assume that Annalena Burbock will spend less this year than she spent in the past. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in second place in terms of spending on his appearance in 2023: over 10 months, more than 23 thousand euros (23,013) were spent on stylists and makeup artists. Over the entire past year, the German Chancellor spent 40 thousand euros. In third place is the Minister of Family Affairs, Women, Senior Citizens and Youth Lisa Paus. Its appearance cost taxpayers almost 21 thousand euros (20,909 euros 60 cents).
Annalena Burbock on the train from Washington to New York, September 15, 2023Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance
So, the top three as of November 2023 have been determined. But is there an explanation for why the beauty of the Foreign Minister costs the German treasury the highest amount of money? The fact is that the head of the German Foreign Ministry is accompanied by a personal makeup artist on her trips abroad. Other ministries do not have such an expense item. Due to the irregular work schedule, the minister and the makeup artist sometimes have to work on weekends and at different times of the day.
Deputies from the AfD faction in one of their requests asked for clarification on which trips the makeup artists accompanied German politicians. In a detailed response from the German government back in September 2023, such information was provided. From the table, which took up at least 10 pages, for example, it is clear that the makeup artist accompanied Annalena Berbock during all her trips to Ukraine.
In addition to the top 3 German politicians who invest the largest sums in their appearance, I would like to specifically mention the German Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Habeck. After all, it was he who became the reason for this rather lengthy “correspondence” between the AfD faction and the German government. It all started with a request from German MP Stephan Brandner from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) faction. His interest arose after an advertisement appeared that the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection was looking for a photographer to take pictures. Then the government responded to a “small request” as to why the ministry needed a photographer with a detailed document on 28 pages.
Since then, the fascinating “correspondence” has continued with varying degrees of intensity. Sometimes answers to queries regarding the spending of government members fit on three pages, sometimes they don’t even fit on 30!
Bundestag, November 9, 2023. German Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck and Chancellor Olaf ScholzPhoto: Jens Krick/Flashpic/picture alliance
Who saved money on a makeup artist?
So here it is. The German Minister of Economics decided to save money on his appearance this year. So far, the cost of makeup artists and hairdressers in his department is a modest 550 euros. Last year Robert Habeck spent 11,500 euros.
We see a completely different trend in the Ministry of Finance, which is headed by Christian Lindner: here the costs of makeup artists and hairdressers have just increased – almost three times! True, in absolute terms they are far from the expenses of the head of the Foreign Ministry. The Ministry of Finance spent 1,833 euros on the appearance of its employees.
Another important addition. Last year, Olaf Scholz took the lead, because in addition to the costs for stylists, expenses for photographers were added, resulting in almost half a million euros. This year, the German government, in response to one of the AfD faction’s requests, stated that separate information regarding the photo could not be provided, since the costs of photographers could not be tied to any individual person in the German government. Photographers come to general events and cover socially important events, which may be attended by ministers from different ministries.
1000 and 1 question: how much does the ex-chancellor spend on his appearance?
It should be noted that this “correspondence” between the AfD faction and the German government is already acquiring a very comical character. “What expenses does the treasury bear for the services of massage therapists and physiotherapists?” – this question was asked in the last request. Naturally, no details were forthcoming from the German government. This data contains personal information about the health of deputies. In addition, one of the privileges of German officials is separate financial assistance (Beihilfe). They pay for their own health insurance, but they are reimbursed for some or all of their medical expenses.
Let us present, perhaps, one more question from the “thousand and one requests”. So: how much money from the treasury is spent on the services of makeup artists and hairdressers used by former German chancellors? Although the answer (29,416.99 euros for the period from January 1, 2023) does not name names, it is clear that we are talking about Angela Merkel and possibly Gerhard Schröder. Perhaps – because ex-Chancellor Schröder lost the trial in 2023 and lost his state privileges. The court decided that the former chancellors of Germany do not have the right to automatic bonuses. True, we were talking about the “procedure for using property,” that is, about a lifelong office.
Does Gerhard Schröder use the services of a “makeup and hair assistant”? Or is this spending only on ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel? Probably, AfD deputies will turn to the German government with this question next time.
Isn’t it time to take an interest in how much working time (and therefore money from the treasury) is spent on processing their requests?
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