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Jordan’s Anti-Corruption Commission Struggles to Make Headway Amidst Widespread Graft
Despite its impressive track record in investigating grand corruption cases, Jordan’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (IACC) faces significant challenges in tackling the pervasive problem of corruption in the country. In a recent report, the commission highlighted its inadequate budget and staff shortages as major obstacles to its effectiveness.
Challenges Facing the IACC
- Inadequate budget
- Staff shortages
- Lack of political will to address corruption among high-ranking officials
- Widespread “wasta” (using personal connections to obtain benefits and advantages) in both public and private sectors
- Restrictive media landscape, leading to self-censorship and lack of critical reporting on corruption
The IACC’s Track Record
The IACC was established in 2016, merging the Anti-Corruption Commission with the Ombudsman Bureau. Since then, it has investigated numerous high-profile cases involving: * Embezzlement of public funds * Fraudulently implemented tenders * Conflicts of interest
In 2019, the commission reported that it had recuperated over $211 million in recovered assets.
Limitations of the ‘Rule of Law’ Approach
The IACC’s success in investigating grand corruption cases is commendable, but it is limited by: * Lack of political will * Restrictive media landscape * Authoritarian neoliberal structure contributing to low levels of trust in the state * Socioeconomic inequalities becoming increasingly visible
Expert Analysis
“The IACC’s track record is impressive, but it is incapable of bringing about an end to this broken trust and disillusionment by itself,” said Karim Merhej, a former Nonresident Fellow at TIMEP focusing on corruption, socioeconomic inequality, and governance in Lebanon and Jordan. “Systemic economic and political changes are needed to rebuild trust in the state and put an end to the proliferation of wasta and other forms of corruption.”
Next Steps
The Jordanian government has announced plans to introduce further reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability. However, experts warn that more needs to be done to tackle the root causes of corruption and rebuild trust in the state.
In a television interview from August 2019, a former member of the ACC board lamented how the commission had investigated several cases involving sitting ministers, but parliamentarians failed to lift the suspects’ immunity and allow the judiciary to determine the case.