Finance minister Wouter Bos has defended the €270,000 salary being paid to the new head of the financial services watchdog as ‘acceptable’ seeing as he would be able to earn at least €120,000 more in the private sector.

Former health minister Hans Hoogervorst is taking over at the AFM. His salary, €100,000 above that of the prime minister, breaks government guidelines on public sector pay.
In addition, Bos said during Wednesday night’s debate, the appointment procedure had almost been completed by the time he took office, and it would have been ‘indecent’ to suddenly insist on a pay cut.
Hoogervorst’s salary is 12% lower than his predecessor’s, Bos pointed out.