Republicans say king should have a salary cut, want MPs to debate

The Dutch republican society NRG has set up an online petition to try to collect 40,000 signatures and force a parliamentary debate on Willem-Alexander’s salary’s salary when he becomes king on April 30.

The new king will earn €825,000, like his mother, and will not pay tax on his income. The royal household costs the Netherlands an estimated €40m, excluding security, per year, according to Belgian research.

Describing the salary as ‘exorbitant’, the NRG says Willem-Alexander should be paid more in line with other heads of state. For example, the German chancellor earns €199,000 a year while the Spanish king gets €150,000, the NRG says.

If the NRG manages to collect 40,000 signatures, parliament will be forced to debate the issue under citizens initiative legislation.

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