The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, released the following declaration on International Anti-Corruption Day:
«Defeating corruption continues to be one of the Country's priority commitments and, for the measures to combat it to be effective, it is essential that the commitment of central and local institutions be compounded with the contribution of each citizen and of all business and civil society organisations.
Corruption can only be fought through the convinced ethical and cultural involvement of each member of society, in order to affirm the supremacy of the law, free from all hesitation or insecurity, as criminal law is incapable of repressing it exhaustively.
Clarity of norms, and transparency and impartiality of administrative actions constitute the backbone of a democratic State, without which it is impossible to assure equality and a loyal relationship with citizens.
Institutions must be the first to fulfil the duty of affirming the value of honesty.
The Parliament has made a serious effort to draw up laws aimed at fulfilling these aims, also promoting the best practices in terms of transparency, integrity and anti-corruption, that have been tested by Italian companies. Corruption slows down competitiveness and productivity, seriously damages the economic system by hindering the promotion of the utmost professionalism that our Country can boast, and negatively affects international trade and relations.
The actions carried out by Institutions, the Judiciary and Law Enforcers, in their commitment to prevent and counter illegality, undoubtedly produce positive effects although it is primarily upon the integrity and responsibility of every individual that a healthy society is built day after day.
The International Anti-Corruption Day that we are celebrating today constitutes an important opportunity to reaffirm the need to disseminate the culture of legality worldwide. »
Rome, 9 December 2017
