Latin America’s Anti-Corruption Drive Has Stalled at the Worst Possible Time

Frida Ghitis 

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Until recently, it was one of the brightest, most promising trends in Latin America, and one of the strongest arguments for optimism about its future. But tragically, the fight against corruption, which had made determined strides in its drive to uproot graft, influence peddling and venal misuse of resources, has not only stalled—it has shifted into reverse. The backsliding is now converging with the scourge of the coronavirus, adding to the many challenges that Latin Americans face, and raising the barriers to recovery after the pandemic ends.

Latin America is not alone in hitting a wall in its attempts to confront and dismantle corruption. According to the latest report from Transparency International, two-thirds of the world’s countries, including prominent developed nations such as the United States, “are stagnating or showing signs of backsliding in their anti-corruption efforts.”