Denmark loses first place as the least corrupt country in the world

Denmark must, for the first time since 2012, give off its running suit as the country that is least corrupt.

This is evidenced by Transparency International’s latest corruption index for 2017.Since last year having shared the first place with New Zealand, Denmark has now moved back to second place, while New Zealand holds first place.

For the past decade, unfortunately we have seen a change in the power distribution and increased closeness in the management of power.

CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL DENMARK, NATASCHA LINN FELIX.

However, it does not surprise Transparency International Denmark, which points to a decade, where more dense shots have come to power.

“In Denmark, we build on a strong historical foundation when it comes to the absence of corruption and an irreconcilable work of government. In the past decade, we have unfortunately seen a change in the distribution of powers and increased closeness in the administration of power, President Natascha Linn Felix writes in a press release.

DI: Citizens have less confidence in the public sector

There are a number of international organizations and think tanks that assess the perception of public sector corruption in individual countries.

Based on the index, a country gets higher scores, for example, if there is free access to information systems.

While lack of accountability in and propagation of bribery in the public sector, coupled with ineffective public institutions, reduces the perception of the country.

Denmark’s score is now 88 out of 100, while last year was 90. New Zealand score is compared to 89.

Back in 2014, Denmark received a score of 92.

The fall is concerned with Danish Industry, according to the organization, which shows that citizens have less confidence in the public sector. And it gives patches to businesses.

– The Danish business community knows that foreign companies and investors are noticing the figures in the corruption index. The results are included in the overall reflections on where the best investment climate is – in line with cost levels, political stability and access to labor.

“When Denmark has seen a decline over a number of years, it can adversely affect our attractive position,” says chief executive Christine Joker Lohmann.

According to them, in their analysis of the Danish fall, two trends are worth noting. One deals with trust in tax, which, according to them, the recent media reports have contributed negatively.

The other can be identified for public procurement, where among other things the so-called Atea case of bribery in connection with public tender from the Region Zealand has cast doubt on public integrity.

Denmark needs to open more

According to Transparency International Denmark, it is not possible to measure the concrete effect on the score of cases known in the Danish public.

However, they refer to various national and international surveys and reports that have highlighted areas in recent years where Denmark does not comply with a number of standards and international obligations.

“Now we have to wake up and take the important discussions that we have for a long time without vegetation, including on party support, rules for lobbyism and openness in the administration.

“We should dare to take the basic discussions about how we protect our democracy and ensure a continued strong and non-corrupt public sector, where one can not buy access, influence or benefits,” Natascha Linn Felix writes.