Lack of Political Will Thwarts Anticorruption Efforts
A very interesting read about the Balkans that we, in the Philippines can relate. The article discusses the problems and possible solutions (some sections of the case study were removed). In the Balkans, organized crime is their big corruption problem. In the Philippines, it seemed like the [insert word here] is the mafia. In the Balkans, they have incentives. In the Philippines? Nada. What we have is easier national unity, never having to grapple with ethnic civil wars.
If you want to read the entire article, here is the link: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/analysis/28539/
Lack of Political Will Thwarts Anticorruption Efforts
From: Balkan Business Insight
Warnings from the European Union that the bloc has learned from its past mistakes and won’t admit countries still mired in corruption serves as wake-up call to countries in the Balkans. Pushed by the EU, governments have lined up to proclaim “zero tolerance” for corrupt behaviour. But how serious are they?
Barely a week goes by in the Balkans these days without a new corruption scandal splashed over the front pages of major newspapers, complete with names, dates and bribes – former ministers arrested in Croatia and Macedonia, drug lords that escape justice in Serbia and top officials charged with corruption appointed in Albania and Montenegro.
Corruption in the region remains widespread in all sectors, from the healthcare system to customs and tax institutions and the parliament. The reasons are myriad: weak laws, inadequate investigations by police, corrupt judges and politicians, insufficient sentencing and a lack of coordination of anti-corruption efforts. Western Balkan governments are still only paying lip service to demands from Brussels to clean up their acts.
While different governments are making more or less successful attempts to persuade the EU that they are being as cooperative as they can, experts say the real progress in the fight against corruption and organized crime is measured not by the number of arrests, but by simple indicators: convictions by a court in a fair trial, the amount of dirty money confiscated, or the number of illegally acquired properties taken away. And such efforts have not yet been seen.
With no real political will, and with the general apathy of ordinary citizens, little real progress is being made. What can be done?
There are a number of steps that can be taken but all depend on political will. Such steps include releasing the judiciary from the grip of politicians, greater transparency across all areas of government, serious control over political party financing, oversight of state-run companies and public tenders, strengthening anti-corruption agencies, adopting relevant laws, better pay for those most vulnerable to corruption; training police or special investigative units to be able to successfully carry cases to the final sentencing.
Finally, media outlets should rid themselves of corruption within their own ranks in order to be able to raise public awareness and investigate high profile corruption cases in a serious manner.
…. (removed very long case studies about Balkan regions)…
Possible Solutions
A call for “shock therapy” to solve the corruption problems is often suggested by analysts around the Western Balkan region. However, in Balkan states, this usually means one-off political campaign. Eradicating corruption needs to be seen as a genuine process, stemming from a public that is well-informed on the issue, and requires the long term commitment of all parties.
To make it possible there is a need for a coordinated effort from state institutions, civil society, media and an engaged public.
The driving force of that process could be an anti-corruption agencies and councils, whose members must be elected in a non-partisan manner. Such bodies must be funded properly, well-trained and pro-active, with a much greater influence and power, and they must be open to communication with media.
One of the main reasons for poor results in the fight against corruption is the extremely complex system of institutions dealing with the issue and their poor coordination. Streamlining the process and giving corruption agencies broader jurisdiction and stronger powers, urging them to work in tandem with relevant institutions that are obliged by law to cooperate, such as the tax authorities, specialized police officers and prosecutors, could be part of an effective solution.
The findings of anti-corruption agencies might have little impact, as is currently the case, if relevant laws are not adopted and properly implemented. Laws on the funding of political parties, money laundering, conflict of interest, lobbying, the protection of whistle blowers and especially laws on the origin of property are often not in place and not effectively implemented. The lifting of immunity of members of parliament and senior government officials is a priority.
However, real political will is needed here because Balkan states already have difficulty implementing existing laws that are far from perfect.
The weakness of police investigations appears to be, also, a big stumbling block for any legitimate trial related to corruption. A lack of expertise for conducting investigations into financial crimes, bad working conditions and poor salaries are partly to blame.
There is an urgent need to improve police procedures and implement more precise legislation that will determine the use of special surveillance measures by the police. Many cases fall apart in court because the police do not properly use such measures. Specialized training is needed for following the paper trail.
Finally, any potential changes to tackle corruption will not have long term results if the public does not change its approach to corruption and if it does not wake up from its longstanding apathy. Demanding respect for the rule of law is a lesson yet to be learned.
There is a serious need to raise public awareness through educational campaigns run by civil society groups and media.
Media as a Watchdog
Media outlets, should have a watchdog role, but they sometimes participate in the propagandistic moves of the governments, blindly following massive arrest operations staged for the domestic public and Brussels, or waging dirty campaigns against business and political rivals of media owners and their allies. This has led to a disappointed public that has lost trust in the value of information offered, and such news is often treated as pure entertainment.
Publishing problematic leaked information without questioning its accuracy, or simply filling pages with press releases, are everyday occurrences on the Balkan media scene due to lack of skills, or the political and business interests of media owners.
Behind many media outlets one can find outright or hidden money from political parties, as well as lucrative advertising packages from government officials or tycoons who want to clean up their past.
Additionally, reporting on corruption can be a dangerous business in the Balkans. Threats against journalists working on corruption and organised crime cases have been increasing. There has been limited success in identifying and prosecuting perpetrators and instigators of physical attacks on journalists, and some of them live under 24 hour police protection.
Finally, investigative journalism is expensive, and media outlets, hit by the economic crisis and dependent on weak advertisement revenue, are reluctant to embark on it.
How can such a complex media situation be untangled and yield positive results and at the same time wake up an apathetic public?
Obviously, insisting on media ownership transparency and the transparency of media alliances with political parties is a crucial step, a move which again depends on political will.
There are, however, some steps that media owners, editors, and journalists can take to advance their watchdog role. Journalists can use Freedom of Information Laws, and consult state anti – corruption commissions, the state audit bureau, the financial police, agencies for the fight against money laundering….
They also can use legally guaranteed measures for protection from pressure, threats and blackmailing. This approach could bring back lost credibility and popularity to media outlets and provide more stable profits, rather than ensuring short term political alliances, as is currently the case.
However, corruption in the Balkans is a problem that affects all sectors and requires a multitude of solutions to effectively tackle – there is no doubt that the biggest resistance to eventual joint action of the public, media and anti-corruption bodies will not come from the public, but from the top of the Balkan governments.
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reynz is one Uragon and a Filipino-American, has many years of public accounting & auditing, broadcast investments, housing tax credits and equity investments as his background. Based in the US, he maintains his personal and humor blog at reyna elena dot com. A graduate of Aquinas U, he went to GWU and Temple U in the United States.
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