Corruption in public works is not just an economic problem, it is a structural wound that erodes citizen trust, makes projects more expensive than their award price, reduces the quality of work and distorts competition. When public money … It is used to achieve private interests, and society loses. The Castilla y León company was not immune to this scourge, we remember that even the chairman of the entire board of directors was caught in the alleged fraudulent sale of his company, Demetrio Madrid, who was later acquitted. The People’s Party has its own blacklist too, don’t believe it. However, this phenomenon is not inevitable. There are concrete, tested and enforceable measures that can significantly reduce discretion and increase transparency.
First of all, it is necessary to strengthen public procurement systems with fully digital, open and auditable real-time bidding platforms. Every stage, from the publication of the bid until the award and submission of final accounts, must be available to any citizen, journalist or regulatory body. International experience shows that when information becomes public and easy to analyze, corruption decreases because the risk of detection increases.
In parallel, judicial systems must ensure that penalties for corruption are implemented quickly and effectively. Impunity for slowness is the best fuel for crime. The third pillar is regulatory simplification. The more permissions, steps, and exceptions there are, the more room there is for discretionary manipulation. Clear rules, standardized procedures, and minimal margins for autonomous decision-making are powerful tools against abuse. Finally, citizen participation and whistleblower protection are essential. Safe channels must be established to report violations without fear of reprisal. Whoever denounces corruption protects public funds, and the state must protect them.
Corruption will not disappear with arrogant statements or moral indignation. It is fought with transparency, independent controls, simple laws, social participation, and effective sanctions. This is not just about building better bridges or roads, but about building more solid institutions that respond to the collective interest and not to hidden agendas.
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