Ex-MPs deny
pension fraud
 Members of the Norwegian Parliament enjoy relatively generous pension benefits that now are the subject of an investigation and possible reform. PHOTO: BJØRN SIGURDSØN / SCANPIX Former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is among those who allegedly collected too much in pension, but he claims he paid it back. PHOTO: JON HAUGE Thorbjørn Berntsen of the Labour Party says he's shocked by suggestions he accepted too much pension income, but admits he hasn't read pension rules. PHOTO: STÅLE ANDERSEN / SCANPIX |
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| Ex-MPs caught cheating on their pensions - 26.08.2008 |
Names of those involved in the initial probe weren't immediately released but it later was revealed that several veteran and well-respected politicians were involved including Bondevik, from the Christian Democrats, and Thorbjørn Berntsen of the Labour Party.
Others included millionaire businessman Magnus Stangeland of the Center Party; Erik Dalheim of Labour and Anders Talleraas, Hallgrim Berg and a seventh man, Tore Aurstad of the Conservatives.
State auditors claim all seven collectively have accepted nearly NOK 6 million more in pension income than they were entitled to receive. That's because they allegedly failed to report private income that would have correspondingly reduced their state pension payments.
Berntsen, who left parliament in 1997 at age 64, told newspaper Aftenposten he was shocked and angry over the charges that he has accepted too much in pension income. He claimed he'd never been contacted by either the parliament or the auditors, and had no idea anything was amiss.
He said he doesn't like "being hung out like a crook," and claims those who pay out the pensions must be responsible for their accuracy. He admitted to newspaper VG, however, that he'd never read the rules of the generous early retirement rules that the parliament has approved for its own members.
The rules, argue the director of the parliament, Hans Brattestå, state that the retirees themselves must report additional income to the pension authorities. If it exceeds the amount of the pension income itself (today, NOK 432,000 per year) benefits will be cut correspondingly. MPs under age 65 who file for benefits can't hold full-time jobs without losing pension benefits, but can if they're over 65.
'Paid money back'
Bondevik, currently attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver, also reacted angrily to suggestions he has cheated on his pension. He claims he contacted the parliament himself in 2006, after he suspected he was receiving too much pension income. He says he returned excessive payments after taking on a new full-time job.
The other politicians involved also expressed surprise over the auditors' conclusions and had various explanations. The parliament's leadership has promised a full investigation and checks of all former MPs who retired at relatively young ages but have collected benefits under the parliament's special pension rules.
Nina Berglund
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