Hungarians say corruption is widespread

The latest Eurobarometer survey shows how Hungarians feel about corruption. There is almost universal agreement that corruption is rife in Hungary. The country also compares badly with the rest of the EU.

EU survey on corruption

Commissioned by the European Commission and carried out by Eurobarometer, the poll examines corruption in the 27 countries of the European Union. More than 26,000 people completed the survey. On average, 68 percent of EU residents think corruption is widespread in their country, reports népszava.hu.

However, in Hungary, 91 percent of the population think so. Only the people living in Greece (98 percent), Cyprus (94 percent) and Croatia (94 percent) have worse opinions of public conditions in their country.

In the last three years, the ratio has also worsened. 61 percent of Hungarians think that corruption in the country has increased in the last three years, while only 7 percent think it has decreased. 41 percent of Hungarians think it has increased, while 9 percent think it has decreased.

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Corruption is most present in politics

In Hungary and other EU countries, just over half of the population think that bribery and abuse of power are most prevalent in politics. Thus, they are mostly present among political parties and politicians, which are followed by civil servants who issue building permits.

Unlike the EU average, a high proportion of Hungarians say that corruption is present in the health sector. The EU average is 29 percent, while 46 percent of Hungarians think so. In the past year, less than one in 20 Europeans have had to pay for medical care or give a gift or donation over and above the official fee. The EU average is also observed in Hungary, writes telex.hu.

Across Europe, the number of people who think some form of corruption is unacceptable is falling. 69 percent of people thought so in 2019, down from 63 percent this year. In Hungary, only 39 percent of people consider corruption unacceptable.

74 percent of the population think that the only way to succeed in business is to have political connections. Only 4 in 10 Europeans think anti-corruption measures are impartial and without ulterior motives.

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Source: telex.hu, népszava.hu