Corruption and Democratic Transition in Eastern Europe by Marija Zurnić

Author:Marija Zurnić
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

Political Integrity and Corruption: Critique from the Good Governance Perspective

The scandal concerning the money transfers to Cyprus became more complex in late 2001, immediately after the investigation was abandoned, with the surfacing of another highly articulated and well-promoted voice in the debate, which emerged and developed in parallel with the two discussed above. Actors taking this perspective thought that the fight against corruption should be based on support for democratic procedures, strengthened institutions and governance and enhanced personal and institutional integrity. This position, mainly advocated by anti-corruption practitioners and experts, argued that several aspects of the investigation of the money transfers could be identified as incidences of corruption. Firstly, the post-Milošević establishment was criticised for its lack of responsiveness and efficiency in conducting the investigation and for abandoning an issue of common interest, allegedly for political gain. This discourse highlighted a lack of transparency in conducting the inquiry as Governor Dinkić failed to inform the government regularly of the investigation’s progress. Moreover, the actors in this discourse argued that the fact that the enquiry was cancelled in secret and without public debate was a form of corruption.

Secondly, this discourse understood the decision to abandon the investigation, allegedly made under the influence of the business elite, as a form of political corruption. Furthermore, this discourse argued that in order to avoid conflicts with the financial elite and criminal groups formed under Milošević’s rule, the state authorities replaced the investigation of the transfers to Cyprus with the Law on Excess Revenue. Moreover, the actors in this discourse argued that state anti-corruption policy must not be based on taxation, insisting instead that the origin of capital be investigated and illegally acquired goods confiscated. 16 However, this policy change did not take place, and suspicions were raised that the funds from Cyprus were invested in the national economy through the privatisation process. 17

It is important to note that the actors who took this view did not question the idea of corruption based on a strict division between public and private. Instead, these actors accused the post-2000 governments of not applying the definition of corruption to their own political conduct. For example, it was argued that the attempt by state authorities to investigate the money in Cyprus was not genuine and that Governor Dinkić allegedly benefitted politically from the investigation being sabotaged. Moreover, this discourse insisted that the Law on Excess Revenue was an instrument used by the political elite in power to co-opt the business elite, as the law enabled “Milošević’s businessmen” to buy their freedom by paying a one-off tax.

This position was taken by a wide range of actors and was mainly formalised through the activities of the National Anti-Corruption Council. The most prominent advocate of this discourse in the early 2000s was Verica Barać, President of the National Anti-Corruption Council, who summarised the main arguments of this critical position thus:… as for Dinkić abandoning that business [investigation of the money in Cyprus], I see it as a crucial moment for his later successful career.

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