The president of Iceland has been giving away a tenth of his pre-tax pay to charities. In November he announced he did not want a large pay rise.
Read more: Iceland’s president turns down a monthly pay increase of 5,300 USD
In November an independent board which determines the pay of elected government officials and high civil servants decided to raise the pay of MPs, government ministers and the President of Iceland. The decision caused significant anger in Iceland, as many felt that large pay increases to the highest paid government officials were unreasonable at a time lowest wages and disability benefits have barely kept up with inflation.
President tries to turn down 20% pay hike
The president of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson declared at the time that he had not asked for the the pay increase and that he would refuse to accept it. The president's salary rose from 30,000,000 ISK annually (273,000 USD/257,000 EUR) to 36,000,000 ISK (327,000 USD/308,000 EUR).
However, the President cannot simply refuse to accept a part of his wages, as an act of parliament is needed to reverse the decision of the pay board. In November Guðni Th. expressed confidence that Parliament would act to reverse the decision. However, the decision still stands, and MPs have shown no interest in passing a bill to lower their wages or those of government ministers. In the meantime the President has been giving the money away to charities.
Refuses to make an issue of which charities receive the money
The President has now confirmed to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that he has given away all the money he has received as a result of the pay rise to various charities. In an interview with RÚV after taxes had been paid on the pay rise he was left with 260,401 ISK (2,370 USD/2,230 EUR). As the president cannot simply return this money to the treasury he has been giving ca 10% of his pre-tax pay, or 300,000 ISK (2,730 USD/2,570) every month to different charities.
The president refused to reveal which charities he had been giving to. He has previously explained that he did not want to make too much of a fuss out of his charitable giving by making a public issue out of which good causes he was supporting,
The president of Iceland has been giving away a tenth of his pre-tax pay to charities. In November he announced he did not want a large pay rise.
Read more: Iceland’s president turns down a monthly pay increase of 5,300 USD
In November an independent board which determines the pay of elected government officials and high civil servants decided to raise the pay of MPs, government ministers and the President of Iceland. The decision caused significant anger in Iceland, as many felt that large pay increases to the highest paid government officials were unreasonable at a time lowest wages and disability benefits have barely kept up with inflation.
President tries to turn down 20% pay hike
The president of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson declared at the time that he had not asked for the the pay increase and that he would refuse to accept it. The president's salary rose from 30,000,000 ISK annually (273,000 USD/257,000 EUR) to 36,000,000 ISK (327,000 USD/308,000 EUR).
However, the President cannot simply refuse to accept a part of his wages, as an act of parliament is needed to reverse the decision of the pay board. In November Guðni Th. expressed confidence that Parliament would act to reverse the decision. However, the decision still stands, and MPs have shown no interest in passing a bill to lower their wages or those of government ministers. In the meantime the President has been giving the money away to charities.
Refuses to make an issue of which charities receive the money
The President has now confirmed to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that he has given away all the money he has received as a result of the pay rise to various charities. In an interview with RÚV after taxes had been paid on the pay rise he was left with 260,401 ISK (2,370 USD/2,230 EUR). As the president cannot simply return this money to the treasury he has been giving ca 10% of his pre-tax pay, or 300,000 ISK (2,730 USD/2,570) every month to different charities.
The president refused to reveal which charities he had been giving to. He has previously explained that he did not want to make too much of a fuss out of his charitable giving by making a public issue out of which good causes he was supporting,
