Our team is preparing enthusiastically for the marathon relay. Join us on June 9 and run with TI members against corruption on a 7 km distance!

If you are not an athlete-type but find the cause important, come and find us at the TI BASE events. We have organised a film club, a stand up comedy talk night and a photo contest this year, while our summer programmes will be focused on dance. We hope we can see you around at major summer festivals. We are happy to announce that there are more and more enthusiastic advocates of the organisation and the anti-corruption cause, amongst whom committed business leaders. Mercedes-Benz, Signal Insurance Co., Bautrans and Allianz Hungary recently joined the Corporate Supporters Forum of Transparency International Hungary. Members of the Supporters’ Forum had a discussion together with the Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Office for Economic Competition, addressing the crucial question of what can be done to create a more transparent Hungarian business sector.

And why have we been so active lately?

Simply because campaign financing became practically uncontrollable since the Election Package was approved. Meanwhile, reality proved that friends of the governing party writing the tobacco trade law does not benefit fair competition – quite the contrary, it benefits only them. This year it became clear again that asset declarations do not truthfully reflect the financial status of parliamentary representatives and their unreal contents are not sanctioned by the system either.

Last Thursday a discussion took place at a conference summoned to exchange views on the regulations of campaign financing. According to jurists’ views relevant legal regulations are basically superfluous since they would anyway be neglected by political parties eventually. Although I am not a jurist myself, I believe in the power of law and its enforcement.

This is where your personal involvement really matters to TI.

According to a recent bill contracts and crucial documents related to decision making, whose disclosure would mean too much work for the issuing data handling organization, will not be made available to the public. The law does not define what “too much work” means, so practically the given bureau will be able to decide whether to disclose the requested documents or not. This goes absolutely counter to what Transparency International has been fighting for since its establishment: monitoring of public expenditure. TI requested the immediate withdrawal of the bill aimed at the amendment of the information law.

A public interest data claim was filed by TI, atlatszo.hu, hvg.hu, index.hu, K-Monitor, origo.hu and TASZ to the Ministry of National Development and National Tobacco Trade Non-Profit Zrt. demanding public disclosure of the details of the tobacco-shop tender. Problems emerging with regards to the framing of the tobacco-shop law and the implementation of the tender indicated serious corruption possibilities. The tobacco-shop law clearly proves that corruption is present on a systemic level in Hungary, since it was predominantly government-related interest groups who obtained the opportunities representing a secure income.

On 23 April, 2013 the government representative of Hungary introduced the government’s action plan to the OGP Steering Committee and the representatives of other joining countries. TI emphasised the double-faced nature of the commitments, while attendants drew the Hungarian government’s attention to the meaning of the terms “open” and “partnership”. Our counter helps following the fulfilment of commitments laid down in the approved action plan.

The municipality of Budapest’s 13th district has made a decision to renovate a nursery school from its own funds. They have also made a further decision: this investment should be more transparent than the previous ones. To this end Transparency International Hungary’s methodology, the so called “Integrity Pact” was applied by the municipality, and TI was requested to monitor the project from beginning to the end.

Transparency International Hungary drew public attention to the emerging possibility of election fraud  in 2014 opened up by the newly approved  act on election process. Besides corruption risks related to inadequate regulation of campaign financing, possibility of manipulating votes imperils the fairness of upcoming general elections.

The organisation also emphasized its most serious queries to President János Áder concerning the recently passed constitutional amendments resulting in the irrevocable weakening of the edifice of checks and balances, a cornerstone of democracy.

The basic goal of asset declarations is to allow for citizens to follow the financial advancement of their elected representatives and those who make decisions on public expenditures and to learn the source and origin of their wealth. Asset declarations therefore must thoroughly describe the financial status and sources of income of every politician and public decision maker, an endeavour current legislation does not promote. Instead of handwritten declarations, a digital tool using downloadable format is needed to make comparisons of politicians’ and decision makers’ financial status over the years possible.

Transparency International Hungary combats successfully everyday forms of corruption as well. The legal aid service of the organization contributed significantly to the recent failure of a corrupt driving instructor being caught red handed on taking bribes.

New firms joining the Corporate Supporters Forum

Mercedes-Benz, Bautrans, Signal Insurance Co. and Allianz Hungary joined lately the Corporate Supporters Forum of Transparency International Hungary. The fact that more and more firms are joining the Forum shows that Hungarian corporations are getting increasingly committed to tackle corruption and facilitate competition. Our members are companies which aim and act for an ethical, transparent, and accountable operation.

Business sector against corruption

More than thirty business leaders showed up at the Telenor House in Törökbálint for a business breakfast held jointly by Transparency International Hungary and the Hungarian Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Small- and medium size enterprise tutorial

“KKV Kurázsi”, a new electronic anti-corruption tutorial developed jointly by Telenor and Transparency International Hungary supports specifically small- and medium size enterprises in their fight against corruption.

Leaders can do the most against corruption

Although a remarkable proportion of companies applies several tools to prevent corruption, these solutions alone do not eliminate all corruption risks, as informative research of Telenor and Transparency International Hungary finds.

Hero or traitor?

Whistleblowers have a crucial role in uncovering corruption, since corruption cases generally stay hidden. Nevertheless, whistleblowing raises several dilemmas. The discussion held at Európa Pont was devoted to talk through these dilemmas with our guests.
The video about the discussion can be watched here.

“Talk it over!” – Informal dialogue on corruption

Transparency International Base invited stand-up comedian Andás Péter Kovács from Dumaszínház and TI Hungary legal director Miklós Ligeti to have a look at corruption from a different angle. You can watch the video of the event here.

Café meeting by Jövőképp

Jövőképp – Youth for Hungary! Association is organizing an open café meeting with representatives of Transparency International Hungary. Anyone interested is welcome to participate.
Date: 30 April, 2013. 6-8 p.m.
Location: Central Café, Károlyi Mihály street 9, Budapest, 1053.
Click here to get registered: http://jovokepp.hu/hfg765h/regisztracio-ti

Transparency International Hungary announces its photo contest titled “I am honest too!”

What comes to your mind first when you hear about ethical behaviour?
What does honesty mean to you?
How would you communicate the benefits of corruption-free life?
All photos addressing these issues are welcome at the contest! Let your creativity free and take pictures! Please find all detailed information here.

The latest campaign film of Transparency International Hungary is out.
Please support the fight against corruption with 1% of your personal income taxes.
Tax number: 18192744-1-42
Thank you for your support!