Watchdog group: Corruption worsens under populist leaders
ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this May 12, 2016 file photo, a panel discussion took place at the Anti-Corruption Summit in London with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, from left, Jose Ugaz, Transparency International, Daria Kaleniuk and Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg. Watchdog group Transparency International warned on Wednesday that people who turn to populist politicians who promise to change systems and end corruption may only be feeding the problem.
BERLIN >>People who turn to populist politicians promising to upset the status quo and end corruption may only be feeding the problem, an anti-corruption watchdog group warned Wednesday.
Transparency International said in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2016 that in countries with populist or autocratic leaders, “instead of tackling crony capitalism, those leaders usually install even worse forms of corrupt systems.”
The group’s board chairman, Jose Ugaz, cited Hungary and Turkey as examples. Their scores have worsened in recent years under leaders with authoritarian leanings, while Argentina, which ousted a populist government, has improved in the rankings, he said.
Based on expert opinions of public sector corruption, the annual report rated Denmark and New Zealand as the least-corrupt countries, followed by Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway. Somalia was ranked most corrupt, followed by South Sudan, North Korea, and Syria.
Rounding out the Top 10 least corrupt were Singapore, the Netherlands, Canada, and the tie-placing trio of Germany, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom in the No. 10 spot. The United States placed 18th, down from 16th in 2015.
Transparency International research director Finn Heinrich told The Associated Press that the organization was taking a wait-and-see approach to Donald Trump’s presidency, but that already it had “serious concerns.”
“Donald Trump came on board as the people in Hungary and Turkey, on an anti-corruption ticket. He said, ‘We’re going to drain this swamp,’” Heinrich said. “But if you look at his action so far, there is nepotism…. The people in his Cabinet have many conflicts of interest. They are not people who stand for transparency.”
The index scores countries on a range of factors, such as whether government officials are held to account or go unpunished for corruption; the perceived prevalence of bribery; and whether public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.
Nearly 70 percent of the 176 countries scored below 50 on the 100-point scale, with a zero meaning a country is perceived to be highly corrupt and 100 indicating it’s perceived to be very clean.
“This year, more countries declined in the index than improved, showing the need for urgent action,” the report said.
The country that dropped most sharply in the rankings was Qatar, which has faced criticism over alleged human rights abuses involving migrant construction workers since it was chosen to host the 2022 World Cup of soccer. It dropped 10 points, falling to 31st on the list from 22nd last year.
Still, Heinrich said Qatar’s government has in the past shown itself “willing and keen” to fight corruption, and that Transparency would appeal to them for more fundamental reforms to ensure better freedom of speech and more media freedom, among other things.
“You can’t fight corruption without having accountability and transparency in the entire public process,” he said.
Afghanistan, a perennial fixture near the bottom of the list, improved the most in 2016. Its score on the Transparency International index rose four points, but still was ranked 169th, just ahead of Libya, Sudan and Yemen.
18 responses to “Watchdog group: Corruption worsens under populist leaders”
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who cares about this crap.
Klastri, Allie, vector, keaukaka, Nanakuliboss among others
How could you forget Boots?!
ad Wilikii and bootie
They are all Fool-ists: Their tactics are such that people who do not agree with them they besmirch with foul names like ..ists …phobes , Nazis, or psychopaths
It’s another survey/poll, and we know how accurate that is. Garbage. This one is a poll of polls. The data isn’t collected by TI, but rather by other organizations. TI simply brings everything together to create one score for each territory. Then they make money off of it. Just another media junk.
Airheads.
The analogy with President Trump is ridiculous and sounds like the usual left wing pompous nonsense.
The group’s idea of conflict of interest appears to be in appointing someone who has some experience, and actually knows what they are doing.
They remind me of someone who hears that a wind has blow through the cellar of their house, blowing away the cobwebs. They rush to the cellar to put them back up, convinced it is the cobwebs that hold the house together.
hahaha good joke!
#MAGA = Make America Graft Again
I think it is time to establish a non-political driven paper. Too much democratic based information being slung out.
There is generally 2 sides to each story. Time to close the democratic chapter and open up a Republican chapter.
It truly is unfortunate that this paper cannot report the news on a totally unbiased basis.
No matter what all you fools claim the Chief Fool is fu-ki-g up big time. Even my dog is more focused than the idi-t. If the Chump had a tail and maybe he does he’d be chasing the da-n thing in circles all day. Time for him to move into the first dogs house which should be vacant since the Obamas left with their dogs. WOOF! WOOF! To the Chump and all you Chumpsters.
BTW the Chumps supporters on this commentary site seems to have shrunk quite a bit. AWOL thos, Hawaiikone,blueeyed devil, nalogirl, willustillluvmetomorrow, toe jam , lightsonbutnodyhome, crapmypa-ts2xs and the list goes on and on
Mahalo moderator you must be one of my fans. The Chumpster moderator must be off tonight.
If you want to drive the Chump more nuts than he obviously is. Invade his private space and pis- on his twitter.
Crickets strangely silent all of a sudden. Better watch out because the Chump can’t stand pus-ies unless it’s yours that he is grabbing.
Good night all you suck a–ess
Ass-es