Several weeks ago, the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced a new minister to fight corruption; her name is Diella (Albanian for “sun”). Typically, this would be an oversized news item; however, in the case of Diella, she isn’t a human being, she is an AI chatbot. According to a report in The Washington Post, while this hire is seen as a PR stunt mainly because, according to the Albanian constitution, members of the cabinet must be human, there is hope that Diella can streamline and clean up the corruption-prone government procurement system. According to Transparency International, Albania has a serious problem with corruption, as indicated by its Corruption Perceptions Index, which rates countries on a scale from 0 to 100 (0 being the lowest and 100 being the highest). Albania is rated 42, indicating that it has considerable work to do to improve its performance. While it is admirable to see a country like Albania attempt to tackle its corruption problem, I have my doubts about whether an AI chatbot will have a lasting positive impact.
Category: Civil Society
Protests Erupt in the Philippines Over Flood Defense Corruption.
In recent days, several protests have erupted over allegations of corruption in the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). According to a report by France 24, 30 members of the Filipino parliament and the DPWH have been alleged to have taken bribes from construction firms. Starting in 2023 and continuing to the present day, the Philippine Department of Finance has estimated that the Philippine economy has lost approximately 118.5 billion Philippine pesos (equivalent to about $2 billion) due to bribery surrounding flood defense projects. Filipino President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has backed the anti-corruption protests and stated that none of his allies would escape justice if they were found to have committed crimes. However, despite this pledge, I have my doubts because the Marcos name is known worldwide as a byword for extreme corruption.
19 People Killed in Nepal Over Corruption and Social Media Protests.
Today, 19 people were killed in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, during protests triggered by a ban on social media and frustration over corruption. According to a report in the New York Times, these protests are the most sustained in recent memory, with both opposition politicians as well as some members of the ruling communist party calling for the prime minister KP Sharma Oli to step down. The primary catalyst for the protests was a ban on all social media platforms that include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The government’s rationale for taking these actions is that social media is not conducive to “social harmony”. According to a report in Reuters, the protestors are also frustrated at what they see as a lack of action on tackling endemic corruption in Nepalese society. While it is admirable to see a government having concerns about the dangers that social media can pose, instituting an all-out ban clearly has not been the best course of action.
Protests Erupt Over Zelensky’s Corruption Moves.
Earlier this week in Kyiv, Protests erupted over President Zelensky’s move to strip Ukraine’s national anti-corruption bodies of their independence. According to a report in the BBC, Zelensky proposed a bill that would grant government control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP). Zelensky’s rationale for taking this course of action was that he was concerned about possible Russian influence on the two organizations. As a result of this announcement, mass protests began in Kyiv due to widespread frustration within Ukrainian society over the rampant corruption that has plagued the country for years. According to another report by the BBC published yesterday, Zelensky realized the error of his ways and resubmitted an amendment to the bill to reinstate their independence. While fears of Russian influence are always a concern in Ukraine, this looks like a rare misstep from Zelensky, who has been widely praised for his actions during the war.
Trump Urges Pardon in Netanyahu Corruption Trial.
Yesterday, in a meeting between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump urged Israeli prosecutors to drop the case. According to a report in The Guardian, Trump referred to Netanyahu’s case as a “ridiculous witch hunt,” which is hardly surprising considering Trump’s use of the phrase many times before, referring to his criminal cases. Netanyahu is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust while in office. According to a 2024 report by Al Jazeera, Netanyahu is accused of accepting gifts from certain businesspeople in exchange for political access, as well as favorable media coverage, in return for a promise to hinder the growth of a rival newspaper. According to another report in Al Jazeera, the president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, has the power to pardon Netanyahu if he so desires; however, he has stated that this option is not currently on the table. Whether or not Trump’s words have any sway, one leader trying to influence judicial proceedings in another is never a good look.
Former French President Sarkozy Stripped of Legion of Honor Due to Corruption Conviction.
Yesterday, the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was stripped of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest honor. According to a report in The Guardian, Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption in 2021 for attempting to bribe a judge and peddle influence in return for intelligence about an investigation into his campaign finances in 2007. The only other people to be stripped of the legion of honor are Phillippe Petain, the French Vichy leader who collaborated with the Nazis during WWII, Bashar Al Assad the former Syrian despot, Lance Armstrong, and finally Harvey Weinstein (quite a rogue’s gallery of people). According to a report, Sarkozy allegedly received millions of euros in campaign funds from the Gadhafi regime in Libya in 2007. It is unclear what will happen next, but French prosecutors have asked for a 7-year jail term in the Libya case.
Former Ghanaian Finance Minister Put on Interpol Red Notice List.
Earlier today, the former Ghanaian finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta was placed on Interpol’s red notice list. According to a report in Al Jazeera, Ofori Atta is being investigated over the dubious awarding of contracts involving the electricity and petroleum industries. According to another report in Yahoo Ofori- Atta was allegedly involved in embezzling $58 million to build a national cathedral. According to a report in the BBC, Ofori-Atta is out of Ghana receiving unspecified medical treatment. His whereabouts at present are not known. However, rumors exist that he could be anywhere from the US to the Cayman Islands, a noted hotspot for illicit activity.
Serbian Students Pressure Government in Anti-Corruption.
Yesterday, in the Serbian city of Novi Sad, massive anti-corruption protests erupted on May Day. These protests were sparked by the collapse of a newly renovated train station that killed 16 people. According to a report in France 24, many Serbians believed that the tragedy should be blamed on corruption regarding the shoddy construction. Yesterday, the student groups in Novi Sad rallied the five biggest unions in massive protests in the capital, Belgrade. It will be fascinating to see how these protests turn out. Serbia is an autocratic country and could easily institute a crackdown.
Siddiq is Facing an Arrest Warrant in Bangladesh.
Several months ago, I wrote an article about Tulip Siddiq, the former Labour Party anti-corruption minister in the UK, facing corruption allegations in Bangladesh. Last week, the BBC reported that the Bangladeshi government issued an arrest warrant for Siddiq on corruption charges. Siddiq released a statement saying that the arrest warrant was part of a “politically motivated smear campaign” against her. According to a report in Sky News, the arrest warrant was issued over allegations about how Siddiq received a plot of land totaling 7,200 square feet in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka. It is unclear whether or not the UK will extradite her, but I could see it becoming a political flashpoint between the two countries.
Adams Case Tossed Out, Decides to Run For Reelection as an Independent.
A couple of days ago, The lead prosecutor in New York City tossed out the Eric Adams corruption case. Adams was charged with Fraud, bribery, and soliciting illegal campaign funds. According to CNN, Judge Dale Ho stated that he dropped the case because the Justice Department told him to do so, even though he had misgivings about dropping the case. Yesterday, when the case was dropped, Adams announced that he would run for reelection as an independent and bypass the democratic primary. According to a report in the New York Times, Adams felt that running as an independent would give him more time to prepare for the general election. It is unclear what will happen next, but he is a long shot for re-election despite his legal issues being resolved.
Crispin Corruption Report 