Members of the Danish Parliament are set to receive a salary increase from approximately 870,000 kroner per year to 1.08 million kroner annually. This increase is part of an agreement reached by several major political parties.

The agreement includes a reduction in politicians’ pension schemes, setting them at approximately 18 percent of their salary. The parties involved in the agreement are the Social Democrats, Venstre (Liberals), the Moderates, the Conservatives, Liberal Alliance, SF (Socialist People’s Party), and Alternativet (The Alternative).

Currently, members of Parliament are entitled to severance pay ranging from 6 to 24 months, depending on their length of service. The new agreement reduces severance pay to a maximum of 12 months for both ministers and members of Parliament.

The changes will only apply after the next parliamentary election, with current members’ terms remaining unchanged. According to reports, the new terms are expected to generate overall savings once fully implemented.

Enhedslisten (The Red-Green Alliance), Danmarksdemokraterne (The Denmark Democrats), Dansk Folkeparti (The Danish People’s Party), and De Radikale (The Social Liberals) are not part of the agreement. Pelle Dragsted, political spokesperson for Enhedslisten, has voiced strong criticism of the salary increase.

The debate surrounding the salary and pension conditions of members of Parliament has been ongoing for several years. In 2014, a Remuneration Commission was established to provide recommendations for a new salary system for politicians.