Brussels, 07/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Not enough is being done in Portugal to combat corruption, despite the fact that the country has been receiving international aid since May 2011 and is experiencing a period of uncertainty about its economy, explains a report issued on Monday 7 May by non-governmental organisation Transparency International. Poor coordination between various agencies, lack of specialised judicial enforcement authorities and a lack of political will to adopt a coherent strategy against corruption are the main flaws in Portugal's anti-corruption efforts, according to a National Integrity System assessment presented on Monday by Transparência e Integridade, Associação Cívica (TIAC), the Portuguese affiliate of anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, in association with the Portuguese think thank INTELI and the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (ICS-UL).
The report cites examples of “shady privatisation” and spending by ministries that does not appear on the balance sheet, fraudulent sales of public goods and the appointment of incompetent heads of public companies and bodies. The report says that the results are worse in Portugal than one would have expected from a developed, industrialised country that is part of the EU.
The results highlight the corruption risks associated with the austerity policies currently being implemented as a result of Portugal's €78 billion bailout by the EU and the IMF: “Measures such as privatisation, the renegotiation of public-private partnerships or the restructuring of the defence sector should be absolutely transparent. Sadly, the rush with which these policies are being undertaken can hide very shady deals. Likewise, budget cuts in the justice sector and in public administration weaken fundamental pillars of Portuguese society and may make public officials, judges and magistrates more susceptible to pressures or bribes”, explains the report.'. (SP/transl.fl)