Who are the 10 best paid politicians in the world?

Singapore Democrats

Our ministers, of course! But The Times’ ran a report today that was wildly off mark as it named the leaders of the world as the ten highest paid politicians in the world (see blow).     

Our cabinet ministers easily surpass any of them. And guess what? We are the worst performing economy in Asia since the crisis started. You know what else? Of those listed below, we’re the only ones who cannot change our leaders (except for perhaps Hong Kong).

The Time’s Top Ten Political Leaders in the World:

1. Lee Hsien Loong (Singapore)
Salary in dollars – $2.47 million
Salary in local currency – S$3.76 million

2. Donald Tsang Yum-Kuen (Hong Kong)
Salary in dollars – $516,000
Salary in local currency – HK$4 million

3. Barack Obama (United States)
Salary in dollars – $400,000

4. Brian Cowen (Ireland)
Salary in dollars – $341,000
Salary in local currency – €257,000

5. Nicolas Sarkozy (France)
Salary in dollars – $318,000
Salary in local currency – €240,000

6. Angela Merkel (Germany)
Salary in dollars – $303,000
Salary in local currency – €228,000

7. Gordon Brown (UK)
Salary in dollars – $279,000
Salary in local currency – £194,250

8. Stephen Harper (Canada)
Salary in dollars – $246,000
Salary in local currency – C$311,000

9. Taro Aso (Japan)
Salary in dollars – $243,000
Salary in local currency – Y24 million

10. Kevin Rudd (Australia)
Salary in dollars – $229,000
Salary in local currency – A$330,000

http://www.promotionalcodes.org.uk/26911/the-world%E2%80%99s-10-highest-paid-politicians/

If you re-calibrated the salaries according to population size (amount per capita), the result looks even worse. Mr Lee Hsien Loong still comes out on top of course. But what’s particularly rankling is the gap between him and the next highest paid leader. Take a look at the differences in per head of population:

1. Lee Hsien Loong – Singapore
Salary: $US2.47 million
Per head of population: 54c

2. Brian Cowen – Ireland
Salary: $US341,000
Per head of population: 9c

3. Donald Tsang Yum-Kuen – Hong Kong
Salary: $US516,000
Per head of population: 7c

4. Kevin Rudd – Australia
Salary: $US229,000
Per head of population: 1c

5. Stephen Harper – Canada
Salary: $US246,000
Per head of population: 0.7c

6. Nicolas Sarkozy – France
Salary: $US318,000
Per head of population: 0.5c

7. Gordon Brown – UK
Salary: $US279,000
Per head of population: 0.5c

8. Angela Merkel – Germany
Salary: $US303,000
Per head of population: 0.4c

9. Taro Aso – Japan
Salary: $US243,000
Per head of population: 0.2c

10. Barack Obama – United States
Salary: $US400,000
Per head of population: 0.1c

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25278168-5018055,00.html