Over the last few days, several studies have been published on the state of corruption in Catalonia and Spain. And we can now advance their conclusions: the results are nothing to brag about. On the one hand, the CEO Barometer says that more than 8 out of 10 people in Catalonia consider corruption to be a very extensive problem. This is a very similar figure to that of 10 years ago. It seemed that from 2014 onwards the perception of corruption in Catalonia was reduced, but after the arrival of Covid-19 this indicator has continued to worsen. We have little confidence in politicians, but we justify corruption such as falsifying a registration to get a place at school, or using medical contacts to skip the waiting list. Are we tolerant of corruption? Or perhaps it is that we have an administration where bureaucracy and low public investment make access to basic services increasingly complicated?
The answer will not be given by the Barometer data. And many – especially the institutions that are affected by these poor results – will argue that it is only a matter of perceptions, of asking people what they think, and not what they experience, and that, in addition, the study was done shortly after the disgrace – and the poor management – of the DANA, after a season with several publications in the newspapers about corruption scandals. And perhaps they are not wrong. The problem is that this week we have also learned of the Transparency International's new ranking, which ranks countries from least to most corrupt. The survey does not ask citizens, but rather people and organisations who are experts in the field. Compared to last year, Spain dropped 10 positions, occupying 46th place out of 180. Tied with Cyprus or the Czech Republic, and in a worse situation than Botswana, Portugal and Rwanda.
This negative trend is explained by the fact that anti-corruption reforms are at a standstill – or are advancing very slowly – at the state level and, more importantly, a comprehensive and participatory national plan to fight corruption has not yet been launched. The renewal of the General Council of the Judiciary, the legislation on lobbying or the creation of a new government, have been delayed. the elimination of the Golden VisaThere is no effective protection for whistleblowers of corruption cases, and at the regional level there has been a setback in communities where Agreements with Vox have dismantled the mechanisms to fight corruption –in the Balearic Islands or in Valencia, for example. Likewise, the constant accusation of theand you more between political parties does not help, and undoubtedly affects the vision that the population and those who study corruption have.
The causes of poor perceptions of corruption are well known, but we would give it more importance if we were more aware of the (terrible) consequences of these perceptions. When a country is seen as corrupt, investors stop investing and citizens stop contributing. the thing whether it is wearing a mask in a pandemic or paying taxes. Corruption undermines nations and opens the door for populists. Fighting corruption is the most effective way to shore up a democracy.
