During the government of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Kirchner (2019-2023), Argentina
dropped 5 points in the global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) last year and fell 20 positions
in the ranking of countries where officials and businessmen were complicit. The more they steal from the State.
In the results of these two instruments during 2023,
Argentina obtained 37 points out of a possible 100 in the 2023 Corruption Perception Index, dropping 1 point compared to 2022 and falling 4 positions in the ranking
(going from position 94 to position 94). 98 among 180 countries), reported Poder Ciudadano, the local partner of Transparency International based in Berlin.
That is to say, it seriously
worsened
compared to the indices left by Mauricio Macri's management.
The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories based on perceptions regarding the level of corruption in the public sector, using
a scale from zero (very corrupt) to 100 (very low corruption)
.
Thus, Argentina remains stagnant and without major changes in the country's commitment to this structural problem.
The records during the Frente de Todos government were 42 points out of a possible 100 in 2020,
leaving Argentina in 78th place
;
In 2021 those figures were 38 and 96;
in 2022, 38 and 94 and in 2023, 37 and 98, respectively.
This index was used by international entities such as
the World Bank or private funds
to decide whether to grant loans or make investments.
These indices mean a serious drop compared to the ranking that had been achieved during the government of former president Mauricio Macri (2015-2019).
In 2019, Argentina
ranked 66th
- among the 180 countries classified - and had a score of 45/100 points, obtaining its best grade and position in the last decade.
What were the reasons for the worsening?
During the government of Alberto and Cristina, the Anti-Corruption Office and the Financial Information Unit (UIF)
were withdrawn as plaintiffs
in corruption cases against Kirchnerism.
In addition, the former vice president
launched an unprecedented attack against judges, prosecutors and journalists
through bills, such as the attempt to remove the Attorney General of the Nation, or the launch of the Impeachment Commission against the Court. , headed by ultra K deputies Leopoldo Moreau, Eduardo Valdés and Rodolfo Tailhade.
Not to mention, it was discovered that Tailhade received the hacked chats of the former Buenos Aires Security Minister, Marcelo D'Alessandro, from the hands of the inorganic spy Ariel Zanchetta, imprisoned and prosecuted for illegal espionage on judges and prosecutors.
Furthermore, during the government of Alberto and Cristina, scandals broke out such as
the parties at the Olivos presidential residence during the Covid Pandemic and the VIP vaccination center
.
For his part, Pablo Secchi, Executive Director of Poder Ciudadano, Argentine chapter of Transparency International, said: “Argentina
has been stagnant for a long time in the fight against corruption
.”
“No significant efforts have been made in this matter in recent years.
The
ups and downs
of the interventions of the corruption control agencies and
the interference of politics in the judiciary
make the fight against corruption advance very slowly in our country,” said Secchi.
He then warned that “the first proposals sent to the National Congress by the recently inaugurated President Javier Milei
almost entirely lack a comprehensive and systematic approach to integrity and the fight
against corruption;
an issue that, however, is among the citizens' priorities.”
The first evaluation of Javier Milei's government will be known in January of next year.
The new head of the Anti-Corruption Office, Alejandro Melik, denied last week in an interview with
Clarín
that there is an impunity pact with Cristina Kirchner.
He said that he will sue in cases of corruption if Congress maintains that power for that body and that it investigates cases of conflict of interest in the Milei government.
Melik said
he is concerned about this index
that will call for consultations with Poder Ciudadano and other NGOs concerned about the fight against corruption.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023, presented this Tuesday by Transparency International, shows that
most countries made minimal or no progress in combating corruption in the public sector
.
For twelve consecutive years, the
global
CPI average remains unchanged at 43 points, and more than two-thirds of countries obtain a score below 50. This indicates that there are serious problems of corruption worldwide.
On the other hand, this edition of the CPI for the Latin American region reveals that the judiciary in the Americas
does not fulfill its crucial role as a check on other branches of government
.
The lack of judicial independence undermines the rule of law, promotes corruption and leads to impunity for the corrupt and powerful, the report stated.
With the region's average score remaining at 43 and two-thirds of countries below 50, "it is imperative to address this issue for the effective fight against corruption," said Poder Ciudadano.
In turn, Luciana Torchiaro, Regional Advisor for the Americas of Transparency International, contributed to the analysis of this data: "Countries in the region should work to have
strong and independent judicial powers
that provide accountability and justice."
“Failure to do so erodes the very foundations of democracy and the rule of law.
The
continued weakening of checks and balances
will only foster impunity, for both powerful and corrupt groups, to the detriment of the general public and collective well-being,” Torchiaro added.
According to this index,
Canada (76) and Uruguay (73)
are at the top of the regional ranking with more robust controls and balances of Justice on governments.
In contrast,
Venezuela (13), Haiti (17) and Nicaragua (17)
have the lowest scores in the region, with widespread impunity and lack of independence of the judiciary.
The report highlights that only two countries, Guyana (40) and the Dominican Republic (35), “have improved their CPI scores over the last decade, while the others have stagnated or regressed significantly.”
The widespread feeling of impunity and the inability of prosecutors and judges to act impartially - guaranteeing fair trials and equality before the law - "significantly erode confidence in the judiciary in the Americas," adds the Transparency report.
This perception often "discourages reporting, as institutions are seen as corrupt, unreliable and insecure, Transparency International warned," it points out.
As for Guatemala (23), Transparency International
has experienced a 10-point drop since 2012,
“attributed to three successive administrations aligned with corrupt practices.
The next task for the incoming government of Guatemala, led by President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, will be to dismantle the corruption networks that have infiltrated the State and restore its basic functions.”
For its part, Chile (66) “continues to stand out in the CPI thanks to its solid democratic institutions and high levels of transparency.
However, the nation has seen
a substantial decline in its score since 2014.
”
“This year, the country is at a crucial juncture with the potential to combat corruption and curb organized crime by adopting the beneficial ownership law and implementing the recommendations provided by the Probity and Transparency Advisory Commission. ”the report added.
Transparency International called on governments to
give justice systems the independence, resources and transparency necessary to effectively punish all corruption crimes
and put institutional checks on power.
Where necessary, "governments should also adopt more efficient laws and procedures so that justice institutions can protect against and counteract corrupt acts," the report recommends.
In turn, Daniel Eriksson, Executive Director of Transparency International, stated: “Corruption
aggravates social injustice
and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable.
In many countries,
“obstacles remain for victims of corruption to obtain justice
.” “The time has come to remove barriers and ensure that people can have effective access to justice. All people deserve fair and legal systems.” inclusive where the voices of the victims are heard in every instance. Any other possibility
is an affront to justice
," concluded Eriksson.
According to the Rule of Law Index, the world is experiencing
a decline in the functioning of justice systems
.
Countries with the lowest scores on this index are also scoring very low on the CPI, highlighting that there is a clear connection between access to justice and corruption.
Both authoritarian regimes and democratic leaders who undermine justice contribute "to deepening impunity for corruption and, in some cases, even encourage it by eliminating consequences for offenders."
The impact of their actions is evident in countries in all regions, from Venezuela (13) to Tajikistan (20).
François Valérian, President of Transparency International, said: “Corruption will continue to gain ground until
justice systems can punish wrongdoing and impose controls on governments
.
When justice is something that can be bought or interfered with politically, those who suffer are ordinary people.”
“Leaders must fully commit to strengthening and ensuring the independence of institutions that enforce the law and tackle corruption.
It is time to end impunity for corruption
,” added Valérian.
Regarding the most notable data from the report at a global level, the following stand out:
-
Denmark (90) tops the index for the sixth consecutive year, closely followed by Finland and New Zealand with scores of 87 and 85
, respectively.
Due to well-functioning justice systems, these countries are also among the top positions in the Rule of Law Index.
-
Somalia (11), Venezuela (13), Syria (13), South Sudan (13) and Yemen (16) occupy the lowest positions in the index
.
All of these countries are affected by protracted crises, mostly armed conflicts.
- There are 23 countries—including some high-ranking democracies such as Iceland (72),
the Netherlands (79), Sweden (82), and the United Kingdom (71),
as well as some authoritarian states such as Iran (24), Russia (26), Tajikistan (20) and Venezuela (13)—which this year are
at historic lows.
- Since 2018, 12 countries have recorded
a significant decrease
in CPI scores.
The list includes low- and middle-income countries such as El Salvador (31), Honduras (23), Liberia (25), Myanmar (20), Nicaragua (17), Sri Lanka (34) and Venezuela (13), as well as to upper-middle and high-income economies such as
Argentina (37)
, Austria (71), Poland (54), Turkey (34) and the United Kingdom (71).
- During that same period, eight countries showed improvements in the CPI: Ireland (77), South Korea (63), Armenia (47), Vietnam (41), Maldives (39), Moldova (42), Angola (33) and Uzbekistan (33).