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Greece has improved massively in the corruption index. But the Greeks themselves don’t know that yet.
The 59-year-old lawyer Makis Voridis, former Greek interior minister, has been responsible for the implementation of Greece’s anti-corruption measures in recent years – for the so-called national anti-corruption plan. “Even if we are more than armed under criminal law, the question is: how do we get the perpetrators? We have adopted a series of measures aimed at this: such as internal controls, the digitization of public administration – new structures that ensure more integrity in contact with the population. »
Even if we are more than armed under criminal law. The question is: How do we catch the perpetrators?
The former interior minister cites the registry office as an example: “If an official issues forged documents that make someone appear as a Greek citizen or falsifies important data such as the date of birth, this can have enormous legal consequences. How could internal control help to prevent this? The inspector finds places in the process that could be a source of danger and proposes solutions. The fight against corruption must be something permanent. And I believe that the international community has seen these efforts on our part and has therefore improved Greece’s position in the Corruption Perceptions Index.”
Still a problem for the public
For the index, Transparency International evaluates surveys by independent institutions that are based on surveys by experts, such as economists and political scientists, entrepreneurs and investors.
The fact that their perception is not necessarily that of ordinary people is noticeable on the streets of Athens. Corruption is still seen as a huge problem here by many people, for example by 50-year-old Vasiliki Makrina: “In all areas: You know you have to pay so that your matter is dealt with quickly and properly or so that the medical staff in the hospital takes better care of your relative. But the most corrupt is politics. You can go in clean and come out dirty. I don’t think that will change. It is to despair.”
Such critical voices do not surprise Giorgos Kasápas. The 42-year-old works for the Greek Anti-Corruption Agency, founded in 2019, which helps the government implement anti-corruption reforms.
We want to create new behaviors in which corruption no longer has a place. And children and young people are the best target group
According to Kasápas, a study by the authority confirms the great mistrust that Greeks have towards the state: “80 percent of Greek citizens believe that corruption is high in Greece. Work is needed on our part to make people aware of the reforms, because Greece is changing. We want to create new behaviors in which corruption no longer has a place. And children and young people are the best target group here.”
The coming government should continue
But Greece is about to hold parliamentary elections and many of the reforms are still in the implementation phase. Ex-Interior Minister Voridis is certain that his party, the conservative New Democracy, will win the elections. However, he is of the opinion that another government would also support the reforms. This is the only way Greece can continue to improve in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.