Gustav Hemming - the Center Party regional councilor in Stockholm, was recently forced to resign after it emerged that he had masturbated in front of a 13-year-old boy on a train.
Less than an hour after leaving office, however, he applied for compensation from the Remuneration Board and could receive over SEK 90,000 a month of Swedish taxpayers' money until he turns 67 – a total of around SEK 15 million (€1.3 million).
"Due to the fact that I have requested dismissal from all my assignments in Region Stockholm and in other organizations in which I represent Region Stockholm, I request that the Remuneration Board grant me the contractual right to a fixed-term pension from 2024-12-06, or from the day after the date on which my regional council fee ceases, he writes in his email to the Remuneration Board.
"As I have been in service since November 2006 and am over 50, it is considered that the contract in force at the time of my appointment is applicable. I understand that it is the Provisions on pension and severance pay for elected representatives as amended from 2003-01-01. I am resigning from all posts at my own request. I therefore request a fixed-term pension/guaranteed pension on the basis of the PBF in order to be able to carry out my transition", he continues.
In an email to the regional management office, in which he requests his resignation from all positions of trust, the C politician is also careful to demand the money he is entitled to under current regulations.
"Furthermore, I would like to request that you activate the provisions on pension and severance pay for elected representatives that are applicable in my case", he writes.
Public outrage
Under the very generous regulations that apply to the Center Party top, regional councillors who resign after serving more than one term can receive up to 65% of their salary in a fixed-term pension. Mr. Hemming's monthly salary was SEK 140,400 – which means his fixed-term pension will be just over SEK 91,000 and will be paid until he reaches the age of 67 – i.e. for 15 years.
In total, this means that Gustav Hemming will receive around SEK 15 million (€1.3 million) of taxpayers' money – even though he was forced to resign after molesting a child.
In comments, forums and on social media, many people say that the current regulations are completely unreasonable, and that those in power who molest children or commit other serious crimes should not receive any compensation at all – but on the other hand, they would like to see much harsher punishments than today.
@Centerpartiet nya topppedofil Gustav Hemming säger alltså upp sig själv och begär därmed 15 miljoner i pension som han anser sig ha rätt till. Finns inte ord för hur jag äcklas. Får dessa pengar av @arvodesnämnden så måste huvuden rulla.
— Redder Noon (@Redder_Noon) December 11, 2024
The Remuneration Committee has not yet taken a decision on Hemming's remuneration.
