Transparency warns against strategic corruption by autocracies

With a view to autocratic states such as Russia, Azerbaijan, Qatar and Morocco, the association Transparency International warns of a growing danger from the use of corruption as a strategic weapon. Such countries use corruption around the world “to assert their interests and undermine the political, social and economic stability in democratic countries,” explained Germany Chairwoman Alexandra Herzog.

The targets of the attempted influence via corruption are in particular Europe and Germany. This has been shown, for example, in the “Qatargate” scandal about alleged bribery of MEPs or in the so-called Azerbaijan affair, in which bribes from Azerbaijan flowed to European parliamentarians.

Russian influence in Germany

In addition, Russia has tried for years to undermine European democracy. The effects became clear in the course of the attack on Ukraine. According to the publication of Transparency’s new global corruption index, Russia has “built up a network of influence at federal and state level with the help of massive financial resources”. Examples of this are lucrative posts for the former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD), support for AfD politicians and disinformation campaigns. “In this way, Russia was able to influence political decisions, for example in energy policy, and strengthen its geostrategic position.”

Top value for Denmark, Hungary loses

In Transparency International’s annual country ranking on corruption, Denmark takes first place with 90 out of 100 points. It is followed by Finland and New Zealand
and Norway. Last place in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index goes to Somalia with just twelve points. Turkey and Hungary have lost the most points over the past ten years. Both countries got 13 points lower than in the index for 2012. “This is in connection with curtailing the independence of the judiciary, media and civil society, which are crucial for fighting corruption and curbing abuse of power,” it said. Of all EU countries, Hungary now has the worst value with 42 points and is thus on a par with Kuwait and Vietnam, among others.

No progress in Germany

For the last ten years, Germany has made no progress in combating corruption in politics and administration. The Federal Republic achieved 79 points, exactly as many as in the index for 2012. In order to make progress, it is important to include the fight against corruption in the national security strategy, which the federal government is currently working on, emphasized Transparency Chair Herzog. Specifically, money laundering supervision and law enforcement agencies would have to be better equipped.

Among the European countries where the curve has pointed upwards over the past decade are the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The development in Greece is also viewed positively, which is still not doing particularly well with 52 points, but gained 16 points.

At the bottom of the index are always war and conflict regions whose state institutions have collapsed. Among the last ten in 2022 were Syria, Yemen, Libya, Venezuela and South Sudan.

Looking at corruption in the public sector

In the ranking of 180 countries internationally, Transparency compares perceived corruption in the public sector in business, politics and administration. The index evaluates data from twelve independent institutions specializing in the analysis of governance and the economic climate. Tax fraud, money laundering or illegal financial flows in the private sector are not recorded. The sources on which the index is based include research by the German Bertelsmann Foundation, the African Development Bank and the World Economic Forum.

cwo/ste (afp, dpa, epd)