Swatek proposes linking politicians’ pay to debt performance

NEOS Styria leader Niko Swatek has proposed cutting politicians’ salaries when governments incur new debt or manage public funds poorly, ORF reported on Monday.

Under his proposed model, 75 percent of politicians’ pay would be fixed. The remaining 25 percent would be paid only if economic targets were met.

“Politicians incur debt and citizens pay the bill. That must stop,” Swatek said. Governments that take on new debt should feel the consequences on their own pay slips, he argued.

The model would apply to government members at both federal and state level. The variable portion would be tied to responsible budget policy. Full pay would be paid if a government avoided new debt or reduced an existing deficit according to a binding recovery plan. If it missed those targets, the variable share would be withheld.

Swatek said the proposal should include a legally defined exception for exceptional crises such as pandemics or severe economic downturns. He cited Singapore as a model, where only 65 percent of ministers’ salaries are fixed.