Latvia’s score on the Corruption Perception Index in 2022 remained unchanged, according to results of the results of the index published by Transparency International (TI).
According to Society for Openness Delna, which is TI’s office in Latvia, compared with 2021 the country’s index has remained unchanged – 59 out of 100. This is
significantly lower when compared with other member states of the European Union and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Latvia’s score indicates the country will likely fail to accomplish goals outlined in the National Development Plan 2021-2027, specifically reaching a score of 64 points in 2024 and 67 in 2027.
According to Delna, the new government declaration affirms this – although corruption prevention and its importance is listed as a priority to enhance state security, there is no mention of specific anti-corruption measures. «The general sense is that we understand the negative impact of corruption, but we are unable to affect it in a practical manner,» stresses the organisation. Delna concluded that Latvia is not making sufficiently brave anti-corruption measures to ensure political honesty, business honesty and to prevent wasting of public resources.
When it comes to political honesty Latvia’s score (49 out of 100) is the lowest in the EU and puts Latvia on the same level as Greece, Slovakia, Poland, Malta, Hungary and Romania. When it comes to business integrity, Latvia’s score is 52 out of 100. In this score Latvia is behind Estonia the most. This also indicates that often there are various undocumented additional payments (bribes) provided in order to secure certain decisions or benefits. Business integrity is negatively impacted by scandals involving misuse of public resources and EU funds, competition distortion in different national economy sectors and overall responsibility of various state officials.
Delna Director Inese Tauriņa said corruption undermines decision-makers’ and the government’s ability to protect society and presents a threat to national and global security, as well as the country’s democratic development.
This is why Latvia should act more decisively in corruption prevention and make it a national priority.
For example,
approval of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Action Plan 2021-2025 should have been performed more than two years ago, but it still has not happened.
«It feels as though decision-makers, the government and society do not understand the negative effects of corruption, act recklessly towards out security and reject our own long-term welfare,» says Tauriņa.
The score of 59 points puts Latvia in 15th place among 17 EU member states and 27th place among OECD countries. Among 180 countries of the world, Latvia’s score puts it in 39th place. The average Corruption Perception Index in the EU also remained unchanged last year – at 64 points. The average among OECD member states was 66 points.
According to Delna, the presence of corruption in the political and court justice system, business sector and people’s relations puts at risk state security, rule of law and democratic development.
The organisation believes it is necessary to work on the Law on Transparency of Representation of Interests and its improvement, conflict of interests management system and risk assessment, as well as prevent problems in management. Delna also recommends improving the system to make it more appropriate to modern needs and includes GRECO recommendations.
It is important to assess the need to introduce a private interests declaration for family members of high-ranking officials.
Delna also believes it is necessary to amend Saeima Rules of Order and provide the State Audit full authority to perform audit of the parliament’s budget, as well as improve existing public procurement control mechanisms with transparent monitoring measures. It is also necessary to ensure higher information transparency in regards to contracts signed through price surveys and under-threshold procurements. It is also necessary to make it a duty for the Procurement Monitoring Bureau to review complaints submitted by third parties.
Also read: Report: Hungary is the most corrupt country in Europe