A report on corruption in 183 countries has put France at 25th place, performing better than Italy and Spain but behind the UK and Germany.

"/> A report on corruption in 183 countries has put France at 25th place, performing better than Italy and Spain but behind the UK and Germany.

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CORRUPTION

France lags Germany and UK in corruption rankings

A report on corruption in 183 countries has put France at 25th place, performing better than Italy and Spain but behind the UK and Germany.

France lags Germany and UK in corruption rankings
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The annual index by Berlin-based Transparency International gives countries a score out of 10 on the perceived levels of public sector corruption.

Top of the ranking in 2011 is New Zealand, scoring 9.5 out of a possible 10. Denmark, Finland and Sweden follow. 

France keeps the 25th position it held in 2010, with a score of 7. This put it 14th among other European countries.

Other countries to beat France in the ranking include the United States, Chile and Qatar.

According to Transparency International a series of affairs, including the scandal over the drug Mediator and the trial of former head of state Jacques Chirac, did not help the country’s ranking.

The organization said they “probably contributed to the tarnished image that international observers continue to have of the French political and administrative class.”

Transparency International also said that corruption has worsened the economic difficulties being faced in Europe.

It said the problems were “in part linked to the inability of public authorities to fight corruption and tax evasion which are among the main causes of the crisis.”

The worst performing countries in the table were Burma, North Korea and Somalia. Worst performing countries in the European Union were Romania, Greece and Bulgaria.

The same organization released a ranking in November on corrupt business practices which saw France slip from 9th to 11th place.

The Bribe Payers Index asked business executives from 28 countries about the perceived likelihood of their companies paying bribes. 

The Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium topped the table for being the least likely to pay bribes with Russia, China and Mexico the worst performers. 

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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