– Today we simply celebrate! We have had a big cut in our own salary, says group leader Balder Alvær Olafsen (SV). – It’s not very often that you cheer so loudly for it? – No, but when the red-greens now cut politicians’ salaries, it is almost equivalent to free school meals for all upper secondary schools in Akershus. – We would rather prioritize spending money on good schools, green public transport and a good sports offer than politicians’ salaries. On Tuesday, it became clear that a red-green majority has decided to sharply cut the remuneration for the full-time politicians in new Akershus county. Wages are to be reduced by 15 percent. This corresponds to over NOK 10 million. This is how they want to cut politicians’ salaries This is how the red-green politicians propose to reduce their own salary when old Akershus is to be resurrected again in 2024. Mayor of Akershus: NOK 1,064,318 (-NOK 150,881) County council leader Akershus: NOK 1,064,318 (-NOK 150,881) Full-time elected Akershus (group leader): NOK 745,00 (-NOK 105,617) Part-time committee leader Akershus: NOK 298,009 (-NOK 309,591) Member of the county council Akershus: NOK 904,670 (-NOK 67,489) Part-time deputy mayor Akershus: 298,009 NOK (−552,630 NOK) – Now we take responsibility and cut our own salaries. We hope other counties and municipalities follow suit, says group leader Balder Alvær Olafsen (SV). Photo: Nadir Alam / news Double salary, extra paid for meetings and salary party in the back room In a series of cases, news has told about the politicians’ salaries in Viken. We have looked at high meeting fees for five-minute meetings, politicians with several positions who earn more than ministers, and full-time politicians who should have been paid extra for attending meetings during working hours. We have also told about a county politician who received NOK 117,000 to hire a new manager and uncovered a salary party in the back room with taxpayers’ money. In several of the cases, the politicians have subsequently turned around and lowered their own fees. The red-greens are now proposing several measures to prevent something similar from happening again. – No one can earn more than one hundred percent of the position, we are introducing separate compensation for short meetings and we will put in place a register for double compensation. In addition, we will urge the Storting to give us the authority to actually regulate this, says Alvær Olafsen. – The media attention has of course contributed – We want new Akershus to lead the way as the first county in the country to cut across the board, says Hoda Imad. She is the Labor Party’s county council leader candidate in Akershus. – But would it have happened if news had not put this on the agenda? – We want moderation. The media attention has of course contributed to people recognizing that the salaries we have had in Viken are too high. That’s why we’re taking action now. We take it seriously, says Imad. – Politician salaries in Viken are far too high, and for us in the Labor Party it has been important to cut from the current level when we now enter Akershus. – We want to spend the money on the community, welfare and our young people, says Hoda Imad, the Labor Party’s county council leader candidate in Akershus. Photo: Johannes Kiese
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Will cut politicians’ salaries in Akershus by many millions – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
