Poland’s Corruption Problem Persists Despite Decline

A Persistent Issue

A recent study by Transparency International has revealed that bribes are still a common practice in Poland, despite a decline over the years. The research found that 1% of respondents admitted to giving a bribe in the past year, with health care and police services being the most common sectors where bribery occurred.

Comparison to Other Countries

In comparison, neighboring countries such as Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary reported higher levels of bribery, with 20%, 19%, and 17% of respondents respectively admitting to having given a bribe. In contrast, Scandinavian countries like Finland and Denmark had much lower rates of bribery, with only 1% of respondents reporting that they had given a bribe.

Recommendations for Reducing Corruption

The study also highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability in reducing corruption:

• Governments should do more to increase citizens’ trust in public institutions.
• This can be achieved by offering transparent and inclusive ways of making public decisions, facilitating social control of government, and protecting media freedom.

Poland’s Response

Despite these recommendations, Poland’s government appears to be moving in the opposite direction. The media has been criticized for being bought out by state companies, while hundreds of parliamentary questions to the government have gone unanswered. Furthermore, the government has failed to reform laws on disclosure of assets and has not implemented measures to increase transparency and accountability.

Consequences

The lack of progress in combating corruption is a major concern, with Transparency International warning that Poland is moving closer to countries known for their corrupt practices:

• “Instead of chasing leaders in the fight against corruption, Poland is moving ever closer to the pariahs of corruption,” said the organization.

Call to Action

Experts have called on the government to take immediate action to address these concerns and implement measures to increase transparency and accountability. Until then, it seems that bribery will remain a persistent problem in Poland.