Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index reveals a troubling global trend, with France among the countries experiencing a decline in its ranking.
France has long been a champion of democratic values and transparency, but the latest slip in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) last year has highlighted areas where progress is needed.
Released this Tuesday, the anti-corruption watchdog's latest report covering 2024 shows France’s score dropping by four points to 67, placing it 25th globally.
While this signals challenges, it also presents an opportunity for the country to renew its commitment to accountability and reform.
France is not alone in facing these hurdles as Transparency International notes that 47 out of the 180 surveyed nations had their lowest scores since 2012, reinforcing the need for stronger anti-corruption measures worldwide.
Despite setbacks, global awareness of corruption issues is growing, pushing governments toward greater accountability.
The CPI – which measures public sector corruption through 13 data sources – underscores that while challenges persist, so does the resolve to address them.
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Western decline
Transparency International France has pointed out that while the country has effective tools for combating corruption, they need to be fully implemented.
A more proactive approach – particularly in ensuring the independence of the judiciary and reinforcing ethical standards in the executive branch – could help France regain lost ground.
According to the watchdog's French bureau, the absence of a comprehensive public anti-corruption policy has been a concern, but with the right reforms, France could set a new standard for transparency.
Historically, France has demonstrated resilience in tackling corruption. Its highest-ever CPI score was 75 in 2005, and while it has dipped at times, the country remains well within the ranks of nations with strong democratic institutions.
France’s decline in the CPI also reflects a broader trend among Western nations, suggesting that even well-established democracies must remain vigilant.
Germany has dropped three points to 75 – falling six places to 15th – while the US saw a four-point decline to 65, moving from 24th to 28th place.
These shifts shine a light on the importance of continued efforts in maintaining public trust and integrity.
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Trouble in Europe, Middle East and Africa
In Europe, Slovakia dropped five points to 49 in the first full year of Prime Minister Robert Fico's government, “as numerous reforms erode anti-corruption checks and bypass public consultation”.
Russia – which already declined significantly in recent years – shed another four points to 22 last year.
Transparency International notes that Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has “further entrenched authoritarianism”.
It said that Ukraine, while its score dipped one point to 35, “is making strides in judicial independence and high-level corruption prosecutions”.
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In the Middle East and North Africa, the situation of anti-corruption efforts “remains bleak” as political leaders exert near-absolute control while benefiting from wealth and clamping down on dissent, the group said.
But it said that “unforeseen opportunities are also emerging,” for example in the wake of the fall of President Bashar Assad's government in Syria.
Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest average score of any region, at 33.
Another crucial factor is the growing recognition of corruption’s impact on global challenges like climate change.
Transparency International warns that without accountability mechanisms, funds meant for climate initiatives risk being misused.
Tackling corruption is not just about governance – it’s about ensuring that critical global efforts, from environmental protection to economic growth, are not derailed by the misuse of resources.
