El Salvador’s new corruption body faces challenges

Subject

Anti-corruption efforts.

Significance

On September 30, Vice-President Felix Ulloa met a UN mission in San Salvador to discuss possible support for a new anti-corruption mission. Inspired by similar bodies in neighbouring Guatemala and Honduras, the International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in El Salvador (CICIES) is intended to scrutinise political malpractice and address public concerns surrounding the political elite. The announcement of its establishment last month by President Nayib Bukele came within the first 100 days of his term, meeting one of his election campaign pledges.

Impacts

• The CICIES will probably have less autonomy than its Guatemalan and Honduran equivalents.
• The politicisation of anti-corruption debates threatens to hinder progress on the issue.
• Reducing corruption could weaken gangs’ influence over public institutions but will do little to ease violent crime.