Transparency International Says Golden Visa Program ‘Increased Risks of Corruption’ in Portugal

Portugal’s golden visa program has “increased the risks of corruption” and “put pressure on the real estate market,” according to Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2022, released on Tuesday.

In the latest edition of the CPI, Portugal is criticized for delaying the abolition of this “controversial program”, as well as for launching the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (ENAC) “without guidelines or a monitoring plan”, given that the country’s anti-corruption enforcement is “weak” and “slow”.

“The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index national results reflect, as in previous years, a weak and stagnant fight against corruption, with a perceived level of increased risk of corruption, and a lack of transparency and oversight in protection. sector and national security,” says Nuno Cunha Rolo, president of TI Portugal, quoted in the study publication.

In the latter case, the global anti-corruption coalition believes that the defense sector needs more transparency and oversight, noting that “secret procurement processes and lack of financial transparency practices weaken anti-corruption measures in national defense institutions.”

In the index relative to last year, Portugal is ranked in the group of Western European and European Union countries and receives 62 points, ranging from 0 (perceived as very corrupt) to 100 (very transparent).

Portugal maintains its 2021 result and remains below the regional average of 66 points, but drops one place from 32nd to 33rd.

With the same number of points and in the same position is Lithuania after Israel and South Korea (both with 63 points) and before Botswana (60 points).

Nuno Cunha Rolo believes that Portugal’s results “are the result of the continued failure of successive governments and rulers to recognize the vast number of open, transparent, participatory and honest anti-corruption leaders and policies in both the political and administrative system, as well as in economic sectors and society.”

“They all make a big contribution to a more just, secure, peaceful, inclusive and developed country” and “the recent cases that are happening in the media at breakneck speed are due to a lack of political will and vision – in the Government and in Parliament – in terms of anti-corruption, transparency and integrity,” he adds.

Transparency International Portugal reports that it has already warned about the “shortcomings” of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, namely the “virtually complete disregard for the issue of political corruption”.

The 2022 consumer price index shows that the region of which Portugal is part again has the best result (66 out of 100), but warns that “progress has stalled in most of the countries” that make it up and that “change is safe as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the looming recession require a tough response from governments.”

He believes that “undue influence on decision-making, inadequate enforcement of integrity guarantees, and threats to the rule of law undermine the effectiveness of governments.”

According to Transparency International, “the region is at a crossroads” and policymakers need to “go beyond piecemeal anti-corruption efforts” to overcome the current crisis and ensure development.

Overall, last year’s CPI “shows that despite concerted efforts and many hard-won gains, progress in the fight against corruption cannot be taken for granted.”

“The scale of the problem is enormous: the global average has remained unchanged – at 43 out of 100 for the 11th consecutive year – and more than two-thirds of countries (122) have a serious corruption problem with a score below 50.”

In the 2022 index, Denmark again ranks first (90 points), followed by New Zealand and Finland (both 87 points), while Syria, South Sudan (13) and Somalia (12) continue to finish last. .

Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest average score (32) after Eastern Europe and Central Asia (35).

“Corruption has made our world a more dangerous place. As governments collectively fail to make progress in this regard, they are fueling the current rise in violence and conflict by putting citizens at risk,” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, president of Transparency International. “, the message says.

The official adds that the “only way out” for states is to work hard, “rooting corruption at all levels” and “ensuring that governments work for all people, not just a small elite.”