Swedish government moves to abolish ‘elephant graveyard’ for agency chiefs
Thursday 3rd September 2026 on 13:15 in
Sweden
The Swedish government wants to abolish the so-called “elephant graveyard”, where agency chiefs who lose their positions are placed on full pay, SVT reports.
“Instead of slowly cutting up the elephant, we are now burying the elephant graveyard,” Civil Minister Erik Slottner of the Christian Democrats said.
The government has appointed an inquiry to propose how the system can be abolished and replaced with severance payments. Slottner said the current arrangement was conspicuous and noted that a director general cannot currently be dismissed before the end of their appointment.
When the government decides that an agency chief should no longer remain in their post, or when an agency is closed, the person is transferred to the Government Offices. They remain there on full pay until their appointment expires.
Agency chiefs are normally appointed for six years, with the possibility of a three-year extension. If a director general or county governor is transferred early during that period, they may remain employed for several years with unclear duties.
Former agency chiefs may also receive a severance payment for two years after their time at the Government Offices ends. Those aged 61 or older who have worked for a total of six years may instead be entitled to an income guarantee for four years. The government wants the inquiry to review these arrangements as well.
Eight former agency chiefs are currently employed by the Government Offices. Two were transferred there because their agencies had been closed. Their combined salaries total about 13 million kronor a year.
The former head of Sida, Jakob Granit, and the former head of the Financial Supervisory Authority, Daniel Barr, have the longest remaining appointments. Both may remain employed until sometime in 2029 and earn monthly salaries of more than 140,000 kronor.
About 50 agency chiefs were transferred between 2011 and 2025, an average of roughly three a year regardless of which government was in power. The inquiry must be completed by April 5, 2027.