Govt discusses ways to stop and prevent Poland's pervasive corruption
Discussions about corruption have been going on for several months now in
the government. Recently the Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK) and The World
Bank issued a report testifying to the fact that corruption is an everyday
phenomenon of public life in Poland. Yesterday the Cabinet Economic
Committee discussed the issue. Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz
complained that honesty in some governmental circles is only make-believe.
The ministers proposed different ideas of how to prevent corruption starting
with clear criteria on how to staff positions in the country and principles
for financing political parties. According to Balcerowicz, after the
government started its anti-corruption project two years ago, some success
has been achieved. For example, the number of different types of licenses,
permissions and certificates given out by offices has been greatly reduced.
(Gazeta Wyborcza, page 3) A.Z.
