All articles tagged with #anti corruption
A former Nanjing official, Yang Youlin, was sentenced to death for taking over 2.2 billion yuan ($325 million) in bribes over 30 years, along with embezzlement, abuse of power and money laundering, underscoring China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign where such white-collar death sentences are rare but reserved for very large sums.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced at a Belgrade rally that he will resign in the coming weeks, paving the way for early presidential and parliamentary elections; his second term would end in 2027, and the move comes amid persistent student-led anti-corruption protests following a deadly Novi Sad railway disaster.
Albanian anti-corruption prosecutors opened a probe into changes to the protected Vjosa-Narta wetland tied to Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners resort plan, as environmental concerns and protests over a roughly 10,000-room development intensify.
The European Commission unlocked €16.4 billion in EU funds for Hungary under new prime minister Péter Magyar, contingent on anti-corruption and rule-of-law reforms. About €10 billion comes from the Covid Recovery Fund with milestones, and €6.4 billion from cohesion funds to upgrade health, transport, energy grids, and education; Erasmus will resume for students, signaling a shift since Viktor Orbán’s era and a broader wind of change across Hungary.
Magyar’s decisive win signals a shift away from Orbán’s regime, enabling Brussels to lift sanctions and release Ukrainian funding while pressing Hungary to deliver judicial reform and anti-corruption measures; with a two-thirds majority, constitutional changes are possible, but allies tied to the old system may shield ill-gotten gains, making it crucial to protect liberal voices and sustain momentum for rule-of-law reforms.
Hungary’s new prime minister Peter Magyar pledges to dismantle the Orban-era patronage network, ordering resignations of Orban-appointed figures in the judiciary and oversight bodies by May 31 and signaling constitutional changes if needed; the aim is to curb corruption and end the so-called 'opposition-proof' state. Early moves include pressure on allied figures, with reports of asylum-seeking associates like Poland’s Ziobro, and potential scrutiny of influential businessmen tied to the old regime, as Magyar and his allies seek to realign Hungary’s political and regional ties within the Visegrad framework.
A Chinese military court sentenced ex-defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery (Li’s case included both accepting and offering bribes). Such sentences are commonly commuted to life, reflecting President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption purge and moves to consolidate loyalty within the top ranks, including a dramatically downsized Central Military Commission. Li Shangfu has since been replaced by Dong Jun as defense minister; the broader political motive remains to strengthen Xi’s control, with unclear policy disagreements shaping the cases.
Exit polls and rising turnout show Bulgarians backing change: Progressive Bulgaria, led by former president Rumen Radev, is leading with about 37–38% of the vote, GERB trailing, and We Continue the Change–Democratic Bulgaria in third, as turnout surpasses 46%. The results suggest a potential anti-corruption majority in Parliament, though post-election coalition negotiations are likely to be lengthy.
Bulgarian voters head to the polls for the eighth parliamentary election in five years after mass anti-corruption protests toppled the prior government, with exit polls due and a possible shift toward left-leaning, pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev.
New Hungarian PM Péter Magyar, after a landslide win over Viktor Orbán, vows to defund CPAC and investigate the mixing of government funds with party financing, targeting CPAC Hungary and allied think tanks; CPAC says it has never received government money, while observers note CPAC’s deep links to Orbán’s political machinery and EU funds being blocked for Hungary.
A new suit filed in the D.C. Circuit by the Public Integrity Project claims President Trump and Attorney General Bondi violated a 2024 anti-propaganda law by approving a TikTok U.S. sale to a Trump-backed investor group (Oracle, MGX, Susquehanna, General Atlantic), arguing the deal enriched Trump allies and left ByteDance in control of the algorithm while Oracle controls the data.
China's National People's Congress Standing Committee announced the removal of nine military officials from its lawmakers list ahead of the upcoming Two Sessions, part of Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has seen hundreds removed in recent years. The nine join a wave of purges including PLA Ground Force commander Li Qiaoming, former PLA Navy commander Shen Jinlong, and Sun Shaochong (former Inner Mongolia party chief), following the earlier removal of top general Zhang Youxia. The moves are viewed as efforts to consolidate power before Beijing’s annual meetings (March 4–11), when the government will outline its five-year plan and economic targets.
China’s sweeping anti-corruption purge has removed or investigated dozens of top PLA officials, including Gen. Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, leaving only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin from the 2022 Central Military Commission. Analysts warn the purge is draining experienced leadership, potentially hindering coordination and readiness for complex operations like a Taiwan contingency, even as authorities frame the moves as strengthening party control. The long-term effect will depend on who can credibly fill the vacancies and stabilize the force.
China’s top general Zhang Youxia, joint vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and CMC staff chief Liu Zhenli are under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, marking a rare purge at the PLA’s upper ranks amid Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive. Reports cited by the Wall Street Journal allege leaks of nuclear information to the U.S. and bribery for promotions, though verification remains limited; analysts say the investigation tests leadership stability even as Beijing continues military modernization and its Taiwan posture.
China's anti-corruption campaign has led to the expulsion of three top military officers, including Wang Renhua, Zhang Hongbing, and Wang Peng, from the national legislature, highlighting ongoing efforts to address corruption within the military.