Corruption in Portugal

In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of Corruption in Portugal, analyzing its impact on today's society and its relevance in various aspects of daily life. From its origins to its influence today, Corruption in Portugal has played a crucial role in shaping the world we inhabit. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we will examine its implications in different spheres, from politics and economics to culture and technology. Likewise, we will delve into lesser-known aspects of Corruption in Portugal, revealing new perspectives that will allow us to better understand its importance in the current context. Through this journey, we aim to offer the reader a broad and enriching vision of Corruption in Portugal, inviting them to reflect on its role in the contemporary world.

Political corruption
Forms and concepts
Anti-corruption
Corruption by country
Africa
Asia
Europe
North America
Central America
South America
Oceania

In 2013, a report by Transparency International revealed that political parties, Parliament, the judiciary and the military are the most corrupt institutions in Portugal. Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks the country in 43rd place out of 180 countries in the Index.

Extent

Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer 2013 reveals that political parties, Parliament, the judiciary and the military are the most corrupt institutions in Portugal.[1]

Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index scored Portugal at 57 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, Portugal ranked 43rd among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[2] For comparison with regional scores, the highest score among Western European and European Union countries [Note 1] was 90, the average score was 64 and the lowest score was 41.[3] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[4]

The exposure of high-profile corruption cases in the media and the limited political engagement have contributed to poor public perception of political corruption in Portugal. Recurring corruption scandals involving high-level politicians, local administrators and businesses abusing public funds have revealed that safeguards to counter corruption and abuse of power have been relatively inefficient, according to the National Integrity System Assessment 2012 by the Portuguese chapter of Transparency International (TIAC).[5][6]

Regarding business and corruption, several sources indicate that corruption plays a limited role in Portugal's business culture. Foreign companies reportedly encounter limited corruption, but they do not consider corruption an obstacle for foreign direct investment.[7][8] Access to financing and inefficient government bureaucracy are considered the most problematic factors for doing business, according to the surveyed business executives from World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014.[9]

The EU report on corruption, revealed that the Portuguese perceive a high level of corruption (with 90% answering that corruption is widespread, compared to an EU average of 76%). However, the same report reveals that, when asked if they had actually witnessed corruption, only 1% responded positively (with an EU average of 5%).[10]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom

References

  1. ^ "Global Corruption Barometer 2013". Transparency International’s. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ^ "The ABCs of the CPI: How the Corruption Perceptions Index is calculated". Transparency.org. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  3. ^ "CPI 2024 for Western Europe & EU: Leaders' hollow efforts cause worsening corruption levels". Transparency.org. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Corruption Perceptions Index 2024: Portugal". Transparency.org. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ^ "the National Integrity System Assessment 2012" (PDF). The Portuguese chapter of Transparency International (TIAC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Snapshot of the Portugal Country Profile". Business Anti-Corruption Portal. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  7. ^ "2013 Investment Climate Statement - Portugal". US Department of State. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ^ "2013 Index of Economic Freedom- Portugal". Heritage Foundation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  10. ^ EU Anti-Corruption Report – Portugal country sheet, http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/organized-crime-and-human-trafficking/corruption/anti-corruption-report/docs/2014_acr_portugal_factsheet_en.pdf