National Post (National Edition)
A very polished PRESIDENCY
During his first three months as president of France, Emmanuel Macron spent $38,500 on makeup. The Daily Telegraph’s Henry Samuel has the details:
‘JUPITERIAN’
French magazine Le Point reported that French President Emmanuel Macron’s personal makeup artist, named only as Natacha M, put in two bills, one for $14,800 and another for $23,700. The Elysée Palace defended the fee, saying: “We called in a contractor as a matter of urgency.” The same makeup artist also applied foundation to Macron during his presidential campaign. It may seem like a stratospheric sum for a president who has described his style as “Jupiterian” — lofty in the spirit of the God of Roman gods.
OTHER PRESIDENTS
The gross figure is higher than the $8,900 salary former president François Hollande paid his staff makeup artist, but it is less when social charges are added. Le Point put the overall figure for Hollande’s makeup at $44,500 per quarter. Nicolas Sarkozy, meanwhile, paid a whopping $11,850 per month for his, according to Vanity Fair.
‘SHAMPOO SOCIALISM’
All these sums pale into comparison with the $159,000 Hollande paid his personal barber. The amount sparked accusations of “shampoo Socialism.” The disclosure caused particular shock because Hollande came to power on a left-wing platform, promising to be a “normal president” who would break with the “extravagance” of his conservative predecessor, Sarkozy, and his model wife, Carla Bruni. The hairdresser, Olivier Benhamou, was hired to work at the Elysée Palace in 2012 for the duration of Hollande’s fiveyear term. He also reportedly enjoyed a housing allowance and family benefits. Le Point made no mention of Macron’s spending on his hair.
THE RESPONSE
Aides said the president’s spending on makeup would be “significantly reduced,” but the news is potentially damaging for the 39-yearold centrist leader, whose popularity is waning. Hollande recently launched a political comeback with a scathing put-down of Macron, breaking his silence after leaving office in May. The socialist ex-president took aim at his former economy minister, warning him against forcing the French into useless “sacrifices” and too much labour “flexibility.” He also claimed that an upswing in the French economy was all his doing and that Macron risked killing it off with too much austerity. “The French mustn’t be asked to make sacrifices that are not useful,” he said. “The labour market mustn’t be made more flexible than we have already made it, at the risk of creating ruptures.”
RHETORIC HEATS UP
The blows were apparently timed to inflict maximum damage just as Macron’s centrist government enters the toughest test of his term to date this week, detailing radical labour reforms to unions ahead of a pledge to push them through via decree. The hard line CGT union has already called for a day of protests on Sept. 12. Far-left MPs are calling for another day of action on Sept. 23. Speaking at a film festival in Angouleme, western France, Hollande, 62, who became the first president in modern history not to run for re-election due to his unpopularity, also got in a jab about Macron’s decision to ditch the traditional Bastille Day interview, saying that his thoughts were too “complex” for reporters seeking sound bites. Hollande added, with a dose of sarcasm: “I don’t want to complicate my successor’s task.” Macron hit back, saying he would leave it to others to compile a “weather report over whether France is faring better.” In a further sign he wants to raise his profile, Hollande posed for the first time with his girlfriend, actress Julie Gayet.