Corruption Perceptions Index 2020 - Executive Summary

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 06:01 CET, 28 JANUARY 2020 COUNTRIES TO WATCH Malta With a score of 53, Malta is a significant decliner on the CPI, dropping seven points since 2015 and hitting a new all-time low. According to an EU report 109 about the rule of law in Malta, “deep corruption patterns have Poland With a score of 56, Poland declines significantly on the CPI, dropping seven points since 2015. The country’s ruling party has consistently promoted reforms that weakened judicial independence. 114 The steady Malta faces significant corruption challenges and suffers one of the steepest declines in the rule of law. In Poland, government leaders exploit the COVID-19 crisis for political gain, undermining democracy, human rights and anti- corruption efforts. been unveiled and have raised a strong public demand for a significantly strengthened capacity to tackle corruption and wider rule of law reforms”. In 2019, a public inquiry 110 into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia highlighted high-level corruption and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The PM’s former chief of staff was arrested in September 2020 111 for an alleged kickback scheme to help three Russians obtain Maltese passports as part of the controversial golden passports 112 programme in 2015. In addition, a European Central Bank report found major failings in Malta’s biggest bank, 113 potentially allowing for money laundering and other criminal activities. erosion of the rule of law and democratic oversight has created conditions for corruption to flourish at the highest levels of power. During COVID-19, the national legislature amended and repealed hundreds of laws, using the crisis as cover to push through dangerous legislation. 115 Parliament also limited access to information for citizens and journalists 116 and allowed for opaque public spending related to COVID-19. 117 An attempt to secure impunity 118 for officials who broke the law in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the heavy-handed police crackdown on peaceful women’s rights protestors 119 increased tensions in the country and revealed the ruling party’s intentions to further solidify its power, despite growing public discontent. With their recent pushback against the EU 120 for making the rule of law a condition 121 for EU funds, Polish political leaders put democracy and anti-corruption reforms at risk. Photo: Thomas Ellmenreich / Unsplash Photo: Lena Ivanova / Shutterstock.com CORRUPTION PERCEPTIONS INDEX 2020 23