Corruption Scandals Take a Toll on Sánchez's Government: Spain Collapses

Transparency International published its latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) this Tuesday, revealing a significant setback for Spain. The country has dropped four points and ten positions compared to 2023, ranking 46th out of 180 globally and 16th among the 27 European Union member states.

This result marks Spain's worst record in the last three decades. The last time it scored so low was in the final years of Felipe González's government, when it failed to surpass 45 points.

With this decline, Spain is at the same level of corruption perception as Cyprus, the Czech Republic, and Grenada. Additionally, it is one position above Fiji, two above Oman, and two below Portugal, which has also experienced a four-point drop this year, according to Europa Press.

Spain continues its decline in the Corruption Perceptions Index, dropping from 14th to 16th among the 27 European Union countries. This time, it has been surpassed by Latvia and Slovenia, although it remains above nations like Italy, Poland, and Greece, which have received even lower scores in 2024.

The Transparency International report scores countries on a scale of 0 to 100, with a global average of 43 points. More than two-thirds of the world's countries don't reach 50 points.

Spain, with 56 points, is within the group of 47 "flawed democracies," falling 15 points short of the 21 "full democracies." This ranking is led by Denmark (90), followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84). Other nations with better scores include Switzerland (81), Ireland (76), Uruguay (76), Japan (71), and the United Kingdom (71).

The score obtained by Spain in 2024 is the lowest in recent years and comes in a context marked by several judicial investigations, including those affecting Begoña Gómez, wife of President Pedro Sánchez. Also, the case of his brother, David Sánchez; the Koldo case; and the indictment of the State Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz.

In comparison, in 2017, when the People's Party was in government and corruption was one of the main concerns of citizens according to the CIS, Spain scored 57 points. At that time, scandals like the Gürtel case and the Púnica case were at the center of public debate. Now, with 56 points in 2024, the country reaches one of its worst positions in the transparency index.