In the vibrant heart of Berlin, whispers of corruption dance through the streets, echoing tales spun in the literary fabric as early as the 1920s. Fast forward a century, and the shadow of malfeasance looms large once again. According to a recent report from the Senate’s Interior Administration, prompted by Left Party legislator Sebastian Schlüsselberg, an unsettling rise in bribery investigations came to light in 2023, a stark increase from the previous year. Yet, like the tip of an iceberg, these numbers merely hint at a much deeper problem. Jiri Kandeler, who founded a Berlin association dedicated to combating corruption in 2017, sheds light on this pervasive issue. He argues that the statistics reveal not just numbers, but a mere fraction of the truth beneath the surface. “Corruption operates in the shadows; the reality is that only about one percent of all corrupt activities ever see the spotlight. The lack of effective oversight in Berlin leads to an enormous dark field of undetected misconduct,” he asserts, likening corruption to fare evasion— the more scrutiny in place, the more infractions come to light. Schlüsselberg shares Kandeler’s unease, noting that only 21 percent of the investigations initiated in 2023 were based on proactive police findings. “Isn’t it typical for whistleblowers within firms or government bodies to expose wrongdoing before formal investigations commence?” he queries, highlighting a problematic cycle where transparency is contingent upon the courage of individuals willing to step forward. Kandeler agrees, stating, “Without whistleblowers, investigations would be nearly non-existent, illustrating a failure in our anti-corruption measures.” While international comparisons suggest Germany is among the least corrupt nations, this perception masks a more insidious reality. Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index may paint a picture of integrity, yet actual practices reveal a different tale. In Germany, one need not bribe a physician for necessary care, yet legal forms of influence peddling, such as lobbying and political donations, frequently evade scrutiny and are often misperceived as benign. Kandeler directs his focus to sectors like construction and healthcare, pinpointing them as fertile grounds for corruption. The city’s extensive public contracts deal with billions in taxpayer euros, juxtaposed against a mere handful of investigations— a juxtaposition that starkly reveals systemic inadequacies. He emphasizes the imminent danger of overlooking sectors such as social services, where corruption may hide while remaining unchecked. “Opportunity breeds corruption,” Kandeler opines, underlining a trend where privatization has undercut public oversight, allowing corrupt practices to flourish beneath the radar. He suggests that nearly anyone can capitulate to temptation when the stakes are right; even those who aim to remain law-abiding may fall prey to poor judgment influenced by circumstance. While mechanisms exist to control corruption—such as a trust attorney and a dedicated prosecutorial unit—Kandeler argues their effectiveness is hampered by insufficient reporting. “Too few cases reach authorities because administrative controls fail to reveal misconduct. Investigative teams yield little substantial evidence, leading to many corruption cases being dismissed outright, echoing a culture of tolerance for misconduct,” he laments. To turn the tide, he proposes significant reforms—establishing an independent anti-corruption body and enforcing stricter penalties to send a clarion call against these infractions. Transparency laws designed to make governmental processes public would break down barriers and limit opportunities for malfeasance, laying bare the inner workings of bureaucracy and making collusion much harder to conceal. But who, exactly, commits these infractions? The layperson might envision clandestine networks and organized crime, yet Kandeler insists the majority of perpetrators are ordinary individuals—unassuming civil servants seen as diligent and reliable by their peers. “90 percent are men, and what drives them isn’t solely greed but a pervasive lack of accountability. The victims often aren’t identifiable individuals but the taxpayer— society at large suffers without a clear face to blame,” he reflects. Even in a system where officials pledge an oath of integrity, the lure of corruption runs rampant. From well-heeled parents leveraging their wealth for coveted preschool placements to the insidious normalization of graft, the lines blur between legality and impropriety. This environment nurtures corruption, illustrating how even the most seemingly innocuous interactions can take a dark turn. As the tale of corruption in Berlin unfolds further, it becomes evident that the city stands as a microcosm of broader societal issues, catalyzed by neoliberal policies that diminish state influence and encourage privatization. In this delicate dance between opportunity and ethics, the challenge lies in reclaiming integrity before it slips entirely into the shadows, unseen and unchallenged. What remains is a call to action, urging the powers that be to adopt a stance against corruption, for every unchecked act of greed serves only to further erode trust and undermine democracy in the very city that once stood as the epicenter of change.
Original Source: www.berliner-zeitung.de
