MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Corruption in Latinamerica

Chile and Uruguay figure as the less corrupt countries in Latinamerica following the annual World Corruption Perception Index, which is elaborated by non government organization Transparency International.

The index includes 102 countries, and according to the Berlin based organization, in the 2002 edition, 70% of the list rated below 5 points in a scale from 1 to 10.

Chile was classified as the less corrupt in Latinamerica with a 7,5 points rating and number 17 in the world list.

Uruguay figures in position 32, with 5,1 points. Argentina in twelve months dropped from position 57 to 70, and its points rating from 3,5 to 2,8.

Brazil and Peru are half way in the list in position 45 and 4,0 points rating, while Mexico and Colombia are 57 with 3,8 points.

Further down and with a higher corruption perception stand Venezuela, 81 with 2,5 points; Bolivia and Ecuador position 89 and 2,2 points and among the most corrupt, Paraguay, 98 out of 102 and a mere 1,7 points.

Top of the world list are Finland, Denmark, New Zeland, Iceland, Singapore and Sweden. In the European Union this year Greece, Italy and Ireland figure with the highest corruption perception index.

"Over two thirds of the world's countries are plagued with corruption, a ghost that floats openly in Latinamerica, the former Soviet countries and most of Africa", indicated the Transparency International Report released in Berlin and Johannesburg.

"During the last twelve months we've noticed a regression in the credibility of democratic regimes in Latinamerica", said TI president Peter Eigen.

"In South American countries corruption and poor governance by the political elites has eroded trust in the democratic institutions that emerged after the military regimes", underlined Mr. Eigen.