For Your Eyes Only: Swedish Bond gala criticized

[August 29, 2012]  STOCKHOLM (AP) -- James Bond is causing a ruckus in Sweden.

Sweden's prime minister has urged the heads of government agencies to control their spending on staff parties after the SAPO security service admitted it held a James Bond-themed bash for 4.3 million kroner ($650,000).

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter reported that SAPO threw the party for its 1,000 staff in June 2011, featuring roulette tables, a tuxedo-clad orchestra playing Bond film music, and song, dance and comedy performances by Swedish artists.

The report, following a string of articles about spending binges at government agencies, exposed SAPO to both ridicule and criticism.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt told the paper Wednesday that agency chiefs "are well paid, they should know better."

[Associated Press]

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