Several Danish parties are calling for new rules to stop mayors from receiving double pay after major salary increases. Critics say public trust is at stake as many mayors earn more than the prime minister due to paid side jobs.
Political backlash against double pay
The debate over Danish mayors’ paychecks has reignited during the local election campaign. Three parties, SF, the Denmark Democrats, and Liberal Alliance, want to end what they see as unfair double salaries. Their concern is that mayors already earn high base salaries but continue to collect substantial fees from side positions in various boards and associations.
Almost ten years ago, a commission of experts reviewed politicians’ pay and recommended increasing mayors’ salaries by more than 30 percent to align them with general wage growth. However, the recommendation also said the higher pay should come with a ban on extra pay from other official positions.
The Danish Parliament only approved the pay raise portion of that plan. Today, a mayor’s base salary is 31.4 percent higher than before 2016, yet they can still earn large additional sums from secondary positions.
Several major political parties, including Venstre, the Social Democrats, the Radical Left, the Conservatives, and Liberal Alliance, agreed on the raise but chose not to block extra earnings.
Extra income from board positions
Many of the additional earnings come from seats in local utility boards, housing committees, and especially positions in the National Association of Municipalities. A recent investigation by Denmark’s Center for Investigative Journalism found that 28 of the country’s mayors earned more than a quarter-million Danish kroner extra from such posts in the past year.
Two mayors, Martin Damm of Kalundborg and Peter Rahbæk Juel of Odense, now earn over two million kroner in total—more than the Danish prime minister’s annual salary of 1.96 million.
Because the mayorship is a full-time position within Denmark’s local government structure, opponents of the current system argue that those holding this role should not be allowed to receive extra compensation for side duties related to their main job.
Calls for change reach Parliament
The Denmark Democrats insist the rules must change so that board compensation linked to a mayor’s work becomes part of the overall salary. SF made a similar proposal in Parliament in 2022, suggesting that mayors’ incomes from these roles be deducted from their base pay. That motion failed when Venstre, the Social Democrats, and the Conservatives voted against it.
The issue has returned to the spotlight now that voters are again focusing on local governance. According to Liberal Alliance, even though they supported the 2016 increase, they now believe the existing system has gone too far. Party officials emphasize that mayors are the only full-time politicians in municipal councils and that balancing multiple paid roles undermines their main responsibility.
This discussion connects to Denmark’s broader political culture and how accountability functions within its government system. Transparency over pay and roles remains a recurring debate, particularly when taxpayers’ money is involved.
Commission findings and expert view
The 2016 Commission on Pay recommended that all remuneration connected to a mayor’s or regional chairman’s official duties should be covered by one unified salary. The goal was to ensure these roles remained transparent and not inflated by overlapping fees.
Despite those recommendations, Parliament never implemented the full package. According to experts, this was partly due to resistance from local politicians who were uncomfortable with losing the extra pay. Analysts note that many mayors view these additional payments as fair compensation for the extra hours and responsibilities that come with holding several board positions.
Mayoral pay scale
Mayors’ salaries still depend on the size of their municipality. In 2025, the annual pay will vary from roughly 885,000 kroner in the smallest towns to over 1.38 million kroner in the largest municipalities. Copenhagen’s lord mayor earns about 1.55 million kroner a year.
Even with those high figures, side jobs continue to boost incomes significantly. For many Danes, that combination feels incompatible with public service ethics. Critics argue the system should reflect fairness and accountability rather than rewarding multiple overlapping roles.
What comes next
For now, there is no political majority in Parliament to remove these extra earnings entirely. However, pressure is growing across party lines. Both voters and watchdog groups are asking why mayors still receive bonuses for roles closely linked to the same responsibilities they are already paid to handle.
In the end, the pay debate highlights a deeper question about how Danish democracy balances public trust with fair compensation. Whether the next government addresses the issue may depend on how strongly local and national leaders respond to continuing public concern.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: What Type of Government Does Denmark Have? Discover the Secrets of Modern Monarchy
DR: Borgmestre fik stor lønstigning, men holder fast i dobbeltløn: Partier kræver nyt opgør
