Schroeder's 'hair-dye case' in court

Gerhard Schroeder does not see the funny side

By William Horsley The BBC's European Affairs correspondent

A court case opening in Hamburg on Friday will consider a libel action brought by Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

At issue is whether or not Mr Schroeder, who has just turned 58, dyes his hair.

The seeds of the dispute were sown when the news agency DDP quoted a woman image consultant suggesting teasingly that Gerhard Schroeder should admit that he dyed his hair to keep it looking dark.

It would be better, she suggested, for his "credibility".

I would know if Gerhard Schroeder was colouring his hair

Mr Schroeder's hairdresser Udo Walz

Things grew more serious when an opposition politician, Karl-Joself Laumann of the Christian Social Union, charged that "someone who touches up his hair also touches up statistics".

Gerhard Schroeder vehemently denies that he dyes or colours his hair at all - and says he was stung by the suggestion, coming in election year, that this talking-point was undermining his credibility.

When DDP refused to admit it had made a mistake, the chancellor's lawyer said he had no choice but to sue.

'Very natural'

In his fashionable hair salon in Berlin's Uhlandstrasse, Mr Schroeder's regular hairdresser Udo Walz is definite that his famous client is telling the whole truth.

"I would know if Gerhard Schroeder was colouring his hair," he says.

He insists the chancellor's hair is "very natural. He looks great."

Mr Schroeder's hairdresser says the chancellor has "some grey hairs"

Udo Walz is even more specific. "If you go close, like I do, you can see that he has some grey hairs" underneath the thick mat of dark brown locks.

But Udo insists the grey hairs just stay there, and are hard to see.

His written testimony to the court, along with that of Mr Schroeder's former hairdresser in Hanover, will make up a key part of the submissions which the court will be examining.

Mr Schroeder has a reputation for being more laid-back than most of his compatriot politicians.

But many media reports in Germany imply that on this issue his sense of humour has taken a holiday.

A court ruling is expected soon, at the latest within three weeks.