Hungary Most Corrupt EU Member In 2022: Report

Hungary slid to bottom place among EU nations in a corruption index, with graft watchdog Transparency International on Tuesday alleging misuse by "political elites" of state and bloc funds.

Hungary has been embroiled in a long running spat with Brussels over corruption and rule of law concerns that have led to the freezing of billions of euros of bloc funding.

In a bid to unlock the funds, Budapest committed to a range of legal and anti-corruption reforms, including the set-up of a watchdog that includes a Transparency International staff member.

Hungary replaced Bulgaria as the last among EU and western European countries in the group's "Corruption Perceptions Index" report for 2022 launched on Tuesday.

The report noted "a decade of democratic backsliding and systemic deterioration of the rule of law at the hands of the ruling party".

"Evidence is mounting against political elites on their misuse of both state and EU funds," it said.

Budapest hit back at Transparency, pointing to a corruption scandal in Brussels that emerged last month with one of the assembly's vice presidents charged in connection with allegations of bribery.

"It is interesting that Transparency International did not investigate either the Brussels bureaucracy or the European Parliament," a government statement said.

The statement accused the watchdog of "belonging to the Soros network" referring to the 92-year-old Hungarian-born US financier George Soros who Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accuses of meddling in Hungarian and global politics.

The annual Transparency report ranks 180 countries around the world and territories on a corruption scale since 1995 based on surveys with experts and businesspeople.



from NDTV News Search Records Found 1000 https://ift.tt/QVDb6vh

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Modi Does What He Promises": PM On Why People Trust His 'Guarantees'

Highlighting his recent state election slogan, "Modi ki Guarantee," Prime Minister Modi asserted that the country trusts his guarantee because he diligently works to fulfill them. During a one-day visit to Ayodhya, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 46 projects worth Rs 15,700 crore. The events included the inauguration of Ayodhya Dham Junction, Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, and the flagging off of 6 Vande Bharat and 2 Amrit Bharat trains. "The strength of Modi's guarantee lies in the fact that Modi does what he promises. Today, the country has faith in Modi's guarantee because he puts in all his efforts to fulfill the guarantees he gives. This city of Ayodhya is also a witness to this," he stated. Expressing eagerness for the upcoming consecration at the Ram Temple, PM Modi proclaimed himself a devotee of every particle and person in India. PM Modi reached Ayodhya on a one-day visit, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation
Read more

'800-Strong Mob Intended To Cause Death': Probe Agency On Bengal Attack

Giving chilling details about the attack on its officials, allegedly by supporters of a Trinamool Congress leader, the Enforcement Directorate has said the mob consisted of 800-1,000 people and that there was an "intention to cause death". The agency said three of its officials were severely injured and that people in the mob robbed its personnel of their belongings, including mobile phones, wallets and laptops.  The attack occurred in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Friday, when an Enforcement Directorate team - accompanied by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) - was carrying out searches at three premises belonging to Trinamool leader Sahajahan Sheikh in connection with the alleged Public Distribution Scam.  While the Trinamool Congress called the incident "a BJP conspiracy" and claimed "unruly elements attached with the central agencies provoked locals", the BJP has dubbed the continuance of the rul
Read more