Last night I was watching the first episode of Borgen broadcast at Greek state television. Borgen is a Danish television series, a political drama, with politicians racing against each other, conflicts of interests, disloyal media advisers, sex scandals and Scandinavian-style intrigues. Main character of the series is Birgitte Nyborg Christensen, the leader of Moderate Party, who unexpectedly becomes the first female Prime Minister of Denmark.
Apart from being thrilled to watch this piece full of suspense, what intrigued me more was to see Birgitte Nyborg, the party leader and upcoming PM to go around 1) without security guards and 2) either with own car or a modest cab.
Unbelievable to Greek conditions: after she wins the elections and it’s clear she’d become a prime minister she gets a taxi to go home….
I assume, that concerning these two points the series reflect the real life habits of Danish politicians. Bodygurds are not a must, neither are ‘donated” state cars plus driver paid by the tax payers.
I couldn’t resist but compare with our 300 MPs, 40+ ministers, current and former Prime Ministers, Presidents and other high ranking officials, whereas also lower ranking officials like General Secretaries and so on enjoy a lot of privileges and benefits. Former Presidents get a President pension, widows of former PMs get cars and drivers.
Body guards
It was just until recently that MPs could occupy several policemen (not privately paid bodyguards) for their safety. At least two per shift. Three shifts per day.
That was only recently changed after the increasing crime on the streets and the people’s outcry about the protected politicians and the unprotected citizens. Policemen were withdrawn.
But as we are in Greece, a new “window” was opened for those still wanting policemen/bodyguards. I remember to have read in a newspaper that some 200 MPs applied for security personnel for whatever reasons they claimed.
Being a politicians in Greece seems to be a very dangerous profession alike being a politician in Denmark.
State Cars & Drivers
As for cars leased by the state and given to politicians to use…well… Just a couple of days ago, a Greek website uploaded the documents according to which two drivers working for the public administration were claiming overtime payment for the months July and August (traditionally summer holidays month).
The two drivers were claiming overtime payments for 20 extra hours during daytime work, 16 extra hours for night work and 16 extra hours for working on Sundays and holidays. And thus the same number of extra hours for each month.
To whom are these drivers assigned and thus on 24/7-basis? To Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the man who served as transition Prime Minister of Greece from 16. May 2012 to 20 June 2012.
Pikrammenos may have refrained from receiving salary, while he was Prime Minister. But two drivers? And possible other benefits for the rest of his life for having served the country as Prime Minister for a whole month? In times of crisis and austerity?
I would be really in dilemma had I to choose between being a politician in Greece or in Denmark. But I would immediately know to which country I would like to give my taxes 🙂
I may be all wrong about the Danish politicians benefits and Borgen just reflects a perfect TV world. I may be totally wrong and the whole post was based on a wrong assumption that television can imitate life. Too naive to be true. However, here in Greece, the drivers are still taking around former prime ministers whether for two or three years, whether for a month.
Well KTG, you’re easily shocked. This is the official top 30 list of Irish politicians expenses for the years 2005-2008. (The Irish are not very forthcoming with these details, for obvious reasons)
Rory O’Hanlon € 789,543.77
Michael Moynihan € 726,873.65
Bernard Allen € 725,636.56
Noel O’Flynn € 723,782.51
Sean Fleming € 722,561.57
Johnny Brady € 720,676.88
Jackie Healy-Rae € 719,350.52
Dan Neville € 712,660.55
Brendan Howlin € 709,654.03
John Cregan € 704,570.69
Padraic McCormack € 699,120.51
Ned O’Keeffe € 695,606.45
Dinny McGinley € 692,391.64
Seymour Crawford € 692,011.42
John Perry € 691,415.49
Michael Lowry € 690,947.20
Tom Hayes € 690,436.23
Peter Kelly € 684,358.22
Paul Kehoe € 680,046.39
Michael Ring € 679,042.87
Enda Kenny € 676,745.95
John O’Donoghue € 675,828.78
Phil Hogan € 672,263.48
Niall Blaney € 671,759.13
Pat Breen € 669,201.01
Jim O’Keeffe € 668,538.10
Michael Finneran € 665,965.04
John Moloney € 663,295.21
Beverley Flynn € 661,031.29
John Deasy € 659,961.01
I’ll just pick out Number 7 on the list because I happen to be familiar with this joker. In 2005 he claimed over 34,000 € in travel allowance, but claimed he was being honest in this as he lives a long way from Dublin (he does), and he used the train to keep expenses down. What he didn’t say is that as a retired self-employed over 65 he enjoyed free public transport anywhere in the country, including trains…
Greece is not alone, unfortunately.
source: http://thestory.ie/2010/06/02/td-expenses-2005-to-2008/
Just to make this clear:
has number 7 Greek roots?
Coming from Sweden you are always amazed about the naive Scandinavian politicians. This time Greeks got right. Since the 80’s we have had one prime minister and one foreign minister murdered on open street because they think they can walk around without any kind of security. How many Greek ministers have been killed lately? Please, what is the cost for the country of that, compared to some extra police officers?
lately? not lately but we have a long story of politicla assassinations here. the problem is it’s not about some extra policemen. it’s policemen deployed from the average personnel available. here, even private people ( journalists, businessmen) who seek police protection while they should privately pay for bodyguards.
Now there is a loaded question if I ever saw one.
Not one of these jokers was paid less than 650k over 3 years, meaning at least 215 k a year. The cost of “a few policemen” comes on top of that.
I can understand police protection for current sitting politicians, if there is evidence of any danger to their lives. But past parliamentarians, ministers, etc? Why would the tax payer cough up to bolster the ego of an ordinary citizen and at the same time make do with far less protection themselves (which they are also paying for!)
In Denmark, our ministers do have cars with a driver, which will take them to and from their duties. Regular MPs do not have this and you regularly see some of them in public transportation or on bikes in the streets of Copenhagen.
Ex-ministers and -MPs do have some economic benefits and a nice pension.
Our prime minister have bodyguard and other ministers may also have it I think, based on special threat assessments.
But generally, our politicians are quite accessible. Each year, at the “culture night” in October, the Parlament is open for visitors, and after a security check, we can walk around, visiting each party and chatting with ministers and MPs. For the ministers there is probably a security detail present and some MPs may also have it, if there is a specific threat.
Jakob, Copenhagen
thanks a lot for the information, Jakob.