Grim Merkel is still paid by German taxpayers

Angela Merkel continues to use a stylist for her public appearances in Europe. Photo: AFP/BERTRAND GUAY

Angela Merkel's hair and makeup are still being paid for by German taxpayers more than 18 months after she left office, according to a freedom of information request.

‌The ex-chancellor often travels with a personal stylist while traveling around Europe for public appearances and private meetings.

‌However, some of her requests have caused confusion in the office, which must authorize payments.

‌In the lead-up to Mrs. Ms. Merkel in The Netherlands last year, an office worker sarcastically responded to a request for a €500 (£430) hotel room for her stylist, calling the price «the real deal.»

‌ A senior official admitted the amount was «princely» but approved it anyway, according to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, which received reports based on a freedom of information request.

Angela Merkel on a commercial flight from Paris to Berlin. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock/Shawn Smuda

‌Before a separate trip to Geneva, Ms Merkel's office asked her stylist for a room for 340 euros per night.

‌An office worker reminded her that the budget is limited to rooms up to 200 euros, but again an exception was made.

‌Ms Merkel's spokesperson confirmed to The Telegraph that she continues to hire a freelance stylist at public expense, stating that » the assumption of expenses by the chancellery is related to the former chancellor's ongoing official duties in state and non-state institutions. appointments in the interests of the federal government.”

‌Ms Merkel's office and office declined to disclose how much has been spent on her personal stylist since she left office.

‌It is unclear if the stylist accompanies the former chancellor to all of her publicly announced events.< /p>

‌Ms Merkel has traveled to Düsseldorf, Munich and Paris in recent weeks to receive awards in recognition of her public service.

p> Annalena Burbock hires a stylist with an annual salary of 137,000 euros. Credit: POOL/REUTERS

With a permanent staff of nine, the 68-year-old already has a larger team in her public role as former chancellor than any of her predecessors. .

‌Gerhard Schröder, the former chancellor of Germany, had a staff of four before his post was taken away from him last year because of his business ties to the Russian state.

In while the news could damage Merkel's reputation as a politician who doesn't care much about appearance, government spending on stylists and photographers has skyrocketed since she left office.

‌ Figures released earlier this year show that payments for stylists and photographers jumped by 80 percent to 1.5 million euros in the first year Olaf Scholz's government was in power.

‌Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock of Green Party. Known for her strong fashion sense, Ms Burbock employs a personal stylist with an annual salary of 137,000 euros.