Boric and Kast commit to CPLT proposals to advance transparency and probity in eventual mandate

In a context of crisis of confidence in the institutions, the Council for Transparency (CPLT) invited the two presidential candidates to sign a “Commitment to Transparency”, in favor of the promotion of this principle and in defense of democracy by those who are running for the presidency of the country in a key context for the coming years.
The highest representative of the CPLT, Gloria de la Fuente, pointed to the relevance of the principle of publicity and the right of access to public information as powerful tools for the social control of the public function and to ensure proper accountability.
He also stressed the need to implement concrete actions in favor of strengthening an ecosystem of transparency and public integrity, so he expressed his positive evaluation of the signal given by the candidates Gabriel Boric and José Antonio Kast when signing a public commitment with 16 proposals raised by the Council in the framework of its campaign #FirmoPorLaTransparencia, disseminated through social networks.
“Corruption does not pass without leaving a mark and seriously threatens our democracy,” said the representative of the Council. And he added that the candidates for the presidency not only assumed with this campaign to emphasize an issue of great relevance for the country and for the democratic system, but also signed a series of approaches in this area that involves the presentation of bills raising standards in the matter.
One of the things that brought us the social explosion, among many others, was this perception of abuse of power and use of public office to commit irregularities or profit, De la Fuente said.
For this reason, and given that “transparency is a fundamental pillar of democracy and an important part of the recovery of citizen confidence in institutions requires tools and mechanisms of transparency and accountability, as well as adequate sanctions,” the head of Transparency valued that both candidacies have assumed this commitment.
In the proposal, Explained De la Fuente, it subscribes – among other issues – to a commitment to proposals that imply progress, for example, in the expansion of the number of institutions with obligations established in the regulations on the right of access to information to all State agencies, as well as raising controls and standards in matters of transparency.
This would assume the incorporation as obligated subjects to the legislative and judicial powers and to the entities with constitutional autonomy, given that at present these obligations apply fundamentally to organs of the State Administration, that is, institutions such as the Parliament or the Central Bank are left out.
“We have to move towards a culture of integrity in the public, no rule is possible to implement without real commitment from those who exercise public office. In challenging times for our country we must raise the standard and for that an agreement is required among all, “said the president of the CPLT.
Advances in the private sector and respect for public integrity
In the Council document “Commitment to Transparency, Publicity and Probity in the Exercise of the Public Function of the State”, it was proposed to the candidates to guarantee that public information is accessible to all people and to raise demands on transparency to institutions that work in areas financed “significantly with public resources” or that fulfill fundamental social functions. Among them: associations and companies of a municipal nature, universities, basic services companies, political parties. Likewise, the need to strengthen the system of sanctions is raised if the provisions of the Transparency Law are breached or violated.
It was also proposed to promote Active Transparency, that is, actions aimed at increasing the availability of freely accessible information in a permanent, updated and automated manner, in addition to reinforcing respect for the principle of probity and the rules of integrity. By way of example, it is mentioned to put an end to the so-called “revolving door”; strengthen anti-nepotism rules and perfect the Lobbying Act.

Original source in Spanish