Swedish politicians also after the big individual money as ex-politicians are paid record-high compensations

Tuesday, 13 March 2012
How productive are politicians? This question is very important in the wake of news that more Swedish politicians and ex- politician fixed their lives for good with increased pays and benefits. This is similar to company’s bosses that pay themselves big bonuses irrespective of the performances of their companies.

Politicians are said to be useful in that they will bend backwards to help the economy and us the individuals and companies grow and make better livings. Do the politicians really do this or are they there only for themselves? At first it was thought that Swedish politicians were better when compared to others from more vocal countries such the USA or UK. In these countries politicians there have been explicitly shown to have gone into the sector for their own self aggrandisement rather than their communities. It turns out that in Sweden this is also what is happening with the politicians.

At a time when the economy has been wobbly and unemployment is rising especially in deprived communities, such as in Rosengård in Malmö, Angered in Gothenburg among others, no politician has taken it as a task to try and stamp out his or her name in changing these communities and bring them into the fold of the Swedish economic stream. But what we see and hear is hot air, talks and no action and yet they seek huge pays whether they are in government or retired.

Why can't Swedish politicians behave like those in other affluent countries such as the UK or the USA where politicians can cut themselves from their lofty towers and main stream and go down and work closely with these deprived communities and expose and propel them into the real production chain of the society as a whole remain puzzling. speeches, speeches, speeches - hot air, hot air hot air.

Evidence of this is Skr63.3 million paid last year to the former MPs who have not found any work. This bill has been passed to the tax payer adding them more burden and driving then to the ground.

Retiring parliamentarians that have sat there for three years and have not yet reached retirement age are entitled to so-called income guarantee. It was design to act as economic aid during a transition period but not intended as a sustainable livelihood. Despite this, some of the former members have received such compensation of up to 15 years.

According to figures provided by the Swedish parliament newspaper, Parliament and Department (Riksdag & Departement) show that the payment of income guarantee, including social costs, has increased sharply over the past ten years.

Last year, parliament paid out more money than ever into guaranteed income: Skr 63.3 million gross. This beg the question – if parliamentarians feel that the jobs market was easy why do they find it hard to find a job after leaving parliament or are they just sponging from the system which also protect them more?

Patrik Öhberg, a political scientist at the University of Gothenburg, is not particularly surprised by the development.
“It looks the same in Finland. There are also up in record levels after the last election,” he told the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter.

One explanation, according to Patrik Öhberg, is that the turnover of MPs has become ever greater. Nowadays about a third of MPs are replaced after each election.

“The fact that we have received an increased turnover of MPs raised the question whether it is reasonable that they should receive compensation for only a few years in parliament.
But the problem is that if one were to cut down drastically on these compensation schemes then perhaps politicians would cling to their positions at all costs, with all that implies,” says Patrik Öhberg to the paper.

Several parties now want to tighten the rules for the income guarantee. In November 2011 parliamentary board decided to appoint a parliamentary committee to look at how generous the rules should be. By December 2012 the Committee present its proposal.
We on this network waits would over to be the first to read line by line of the proposals.
By Scancomark.se Team

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