Urban Ahlin’s millions from the state – despite the ambassador’s salary

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Despite a salary of over SEK 100,000 a month, Sweden’s ambassador in Washington DC, Urban Ahlin, takes out an income guarantee from the Riksdag.

During 2024, taxpayers may pay an extra SEK 41,000 a month to Urban Ahlin.

The former S top announces that he follows the rules that apply.

Urban Ahlin (S) entered the Riksdag in 1994 and held the position as a member until 2019. At that time, he had, among other things, held the honorable role of Speaker of the Riksdag during the mandate period from 2014 to 2018.

But in 2019, the former S-top hit a new path when he was appointed Sweden’s ambassador to Canada. In August, Urban Ahlin took the next step in his career when he was awarded the very prestigious job of ambassador in the US power center Washington DC.

The ambassadorship is well paid. According to Urban Ahlin’s employment contract at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he receives a basic salary of SEK 96,000 a month.

In addition to the fine salary, the ambassador also receives a salary supplement of approximately SEK 11,000. In addition, free housing and two free round-trip trips to Sweden per year are also included.

SEK 2.4 million from the state – despite salary

Despite the high salary with benefits, Urban Ahlin has chosen to also collect compensation from the state through the income guarantee to which he is entitled after his years in the Riksdag.

According to a decision from the Norwegian Occupational Pensions Agency, SPV, which Aftonbladet has seen, Urban Ahlin will receive SEK 41,000 a month from the state during 2024. The result for the whole year will be Urban Ahlin paid just over SEK 492,000.

And between the years 2018 to 2023, SPV decided on compensation to Urban Ahlin of almost SEK 2.4 million.

“Follows the existing regulations”

The millions are government compensation that Urban Ahlin thus received in addition to his ambassador’s salary. The decision to give him compensation runs until 2029, according to SPV’s documents.

Aftonbladet has applied for Urban Ahlin, who will return via email.

“I follow the regulations that exist in terms of income guarantee,” answers Urban Ahlin when asked why he collects the state allowance, despite the fact that he receives a salary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Currently, there are several former members of parliament who work as ambassadors. One of them is former L leader Jan Björklund, who is ambassador in Rome, Italy. But Jan Björklund has not applied for an income guarantee and no payments have been made to the former L-top, according to SPV.

Nor has the newly appointed ambassador to Denmark, Hans Wallmark (M), applied for compensation.

The S colleague about the extra money: “Never been an issue for me”

Urban Ahlin’s former party colleague Håkan Juholt is now ambassador to South Africa. Before that, he was ambassador to Iceland. Nor has Håkan Juholt chosen to collect compensation in addition to the ambassador’s salary.

– Collecting compensation even though I have a new assignment and work has never been an issue for me, says Håkan Juholt.

Juholt further says that he is behind the system of compensation for retiring members of the Riksdag. Partly to give members the opportunity not to go directly to companies where they can utilize the specific skills that the political assignment has given them and partly so that members of the Riksdag can express controversial opinions without then being without income.

– In this way, the transition support is insurance because we have members who dare to make their voice heard in the security that there is financial support after the end of the assignment.

– Then it can be discussed how long it should apply, but I defend the principle.