Most new MP's from other political jobs opted against having their salaries supplemented
Most of the newly sworn-in members of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, who previously held political positions, have decided not to have their salaries supplemented with severance pay, BNR found after surveying the new MPs.
Politicians are entitled to severance pay after their political careers to bridge the gap between jobs. But this arrangement can also be used if a new job pays significantly less than the previous job. So new MPs whose previous position in politics paid more than the Tweede Kamer does can apply for their wages to be supplemented. This group includes former Cabinet members, aldermen, and provincial executives.
“As a parliamentarian, I will indeed earn less, but it will still be more than sufficient,” new MP and former Amsterdam alderman Marjolein Moorman (GroenLinks-PvdA) told BNR. She is therefore waiving severance pay.
Five other new MPs who are entitled to salary supplementation also decided to waive it, they told BNR. They are former alderman Robert van Asten (D66), former Minister Marjolein Faber (PVV), former provincial executive Henk Jumelet (CDA), former alderman Maes Lanschot (CDA), and former State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie (JA21).
Former State Secretary Chris Jansen (PVV) told BNR that he wasn’t aware that his parliamentary salary could be supplemented. “I haven’t received any information about that yet. I’ll wait and see and then make a decision,” he said. Former State Secretary Vicky Maeijer (PVV) didn’t respond to BNR’s questions.
The salary supplementation scheme is rather controversial. Many MPs believe the parliamentary salary is already generous enough, and supplementing it shouldn’t be an option. The PVV and SP had scrapping the scheme in their election programs.
“In my view, the severance pay scheme is intended as a temporary bridge, for when you don’t immediately find a new job or if your salary suddenly drops so much that you run into problems with your fixed costs,” Moorman told BNR.
Not all MPs waive this benefit. In 2019, VVD MP Klaas Dijkhoff was under fire after the Volkskrant revealed that he had received €37,000 in salary supplementation per year. He was entitled to the benefit due to his previous positions as State Secretary and Minister in the Rutte II Cabinet.
