THE STORTING (Dagbladet): Before the summer, the Storting will consider whether the severance package for politicians should continue.

The arrangement is unusual in mainstream society: any politician who goes to Løvebakken can apply for severance pay. For 2023, this severance pay is NOK 700,000. Severance pay is paid to politicians who say they will seek employment or continue their education.

In addition, there are three monthly salaries in the so-called resignation allowances, around NOK 250,000.

One of those who received severance pay for a year is Aase Simonsen (H). The former mayor of Karmøy was in the Storting as a permanent MP from January 24, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

IN six of these months, the Storting was exempt from meetings related to the summer holidays.

NOK 700,000

After months at the Storting, Simonsen received a full severance package for a year’s further training.

The 61-year-old told Dagbladet she needed new skills after her stint in national politics.

– For me, it was positive in terms of having to return to working life after so many years, she wrote in an SMS to Dagbladet.

In the text message exchange with Dagbladet, Simonsen points to her tenure as mayor as part of the reason she wanted a severance package from the Storting.

– I have not exercised any other work than political functions since 2009, she writes.

Half received too much money

First day after retirement: new job

However, it is not true that the severance pay at the Storting should be used to fill the gaps in knowledge created by others political positions outside the Storting.

Simonsen was a part-time local politician while in college and reduced that income from her pension. The severance pay she received is in accordance with the provisions that the Storting has agreed to date.

Simonsen’s severance package lasted until December 31, 2022. Two days later – January 2, 2023 – she was back at work.

The right-wing leader then moved into a management position at a company where she also worked from 1989 to 2009.

– Let’s go to Nav!

Moxnes: – It doesn’t work.

Rødt and SV want to abolish the severance pay scheme at the Storting. They haven’t brought in any other parties yet, but Dagbladet is aware that several parties are on the fence.

– Aase Simonsen’s situation is another example of the severance package not working as intended, Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes tells Dagbladet.

– As they say so nicely, severance pay should go to ‘skill-up’ and ‘skill-up’, but here a former mayor is being paid 700,000 for a year after serving as a Conservative Party deputy for 20 months. This is in addition to the severance pay on full pay for three months and the rights we all have in the welfare state, says Moxnes.

The leader of Rødt points out that the severance pay at the Storting contributes to too big a gap between the man in the street and the man in Løvebakken.

– Ordinary people who stay and do a job for 20 months don’t get a 700,000 parachute afterwards, no matter how much they have to refresh in their old job. In this case, student loans and unemployment benefits apply. I don’t understand why any other rules should apply to high-level politicians, especially when you see what severance pay is for, Moxnes says.

The Remuneration Committee, which has assessed all of the Storting’s schemes, has proposed maintaining the severance package, despite protests from a minority on the committee.