Corruption Report 2024: Germany Slips Down Rankings Amid Funding Concerns

Germany has seen a decline in its performance regarding corruption perception, according to the latest report from Transparency International (TI), which was recently released. The 2024 Corruption Perception Index indicates that Germany has dropped three points to a score of 75, positioning it at 15th place among the countries evaluated. This marks a decrease of six places compared to the previous year.

Despite being viewed relatively positively in the international arena, TI highlights significant issues that require urgent attention, particularly in the realm of political party financing.

For the second consecutive year, Denmark tops the list with a score of 90, indicating the lowest levels of perceived corruption, followed closely by Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Luxembourg, and Norway. Conversely, the countries at the bottom of the index include South Sudan, Somalia, Venezuela, Syria, and Yemen, with over two-thirds of the 180 countries assessed scoring below 50.

Alexandra Herzog, the head of Transparency Deutschland, expressed concern over what she described as a troubling trend in Germany, noting that the country has stagnated in its efforts to combat corruption since 2012. She emphasized the need for a modern federal transparency law to enhance corruption prevention, promote citizen involvement, and improve the efficiency of administrative processes.

Moreover, Herzog called for urgent reforms to political party financing, arguing that a fair competitive landscape is crucial for a healthy democracy. She pointed out that Germany's regulatory framework on party financing lags significantly behind that of other Western democracies. Herzog specifically mentioned the increasing prevalence of dubious financing channels associated with certain political groups.

Transparency International evaluates perceived corruption in public sectors across various nations, relying on data from twelve independent organizations specializing in governance and economic climate analysis, such as the Bertelsmann Foundation and the World Economic Forum. It is important to note that the index does not account for issues like tax evasion, money laundering, or illicit financial flows in the private sector.

Herzog also highlighted the problems posed by insufficient transparency and uncontrolled large donations, particularly those originating from foreign sources, which jeopardize fair political competition. She warned that inadequate regulations make politics and administration more vulnerable to strategic and long-term influence attempts from foreign governments through corruption.

While a positive step was taken with the reform of the lobbying register law last year, Herzog indicated that more needs to be done. She advocated for the introduction of a mandatory 'lobby footprint' that would disclose how and where lobbyists' demands are integrated into legislative processes.

In a broader context, Margarete Bause, who oversees the Climate and Environment Working Group, pointed out that corruption is also a significant barrier to implementing climate protection measures globally. She noted that companies with fossil fuel interests and their well-connected lobby groups often obstruct and dilute climate policies. Furthermore, she mentioned that funds intended for critical initiatives often fail to reach the areas where they are most needed.

Bause asserted that significant financial flows are frequently associated with high levels of corruption, particularly in contexts requiring urgent action, which often lack sufficient oversight. She referenced the strong influence of fossil fuel lobbyists in Germany and cited specific instances, such as the promotion of the Nord Stream pipelines and advocacy for internal combustion engines within the automotive sector.