Bill to protect corruption whistleblowers and create an integrity authority

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would recognize as whistleblowers senior officials, civil servants and other public sector staff who reveal information about crimes or administrative offenses, and would give them rights such as confidentiality, free legal advice, job protection and compensation for damages.
2. Complaints would go through a confidential channel. Anonymous complaints and those not backed by documents or verified information would not be accepted, and the Authority would have fifteen days to open a reserved information procedure.
3. Whistleblowers could request protection if they suffer harm for reporting: suspension of decisions that hurt them, a provisional transfer to another position, or a temporary leave with pay and the right to keep their job.
4. The bill would create the Independent Public Integrity Authority, a fully independent body that would investigate conflicts of interest, incompatibilities and misuse of public funds, handle complaints and impose sanctions.
5. Its President would be elected by the Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) by a three-fifths majority, would serve a single six-year term, and could not have held political posts or leadership roles in parties or unions in the previous ten years.
6. The bill would reform electoral law so that people indicted or convicted of serious corruption-related crimes could not stand on electoral lists, and sitting elected officials would automatically lose their seat if indicted.
7. Senior officials could not hold bank accounts or financial assets in tax havens, would be automatically removed from office if indicted, and would face tougher financial sanctions.
8. The bill would also bring more transparency (agendas of ministers and senior officials, contracts, institutional advertising), a public lobbyists registry with a code of conduct, a new crime of illicit enrichment, and a ban on pardons for corruption crimes.

Who it affects

• Public employees and public sector staff who report corruption: They would receive protection, confidentiality, free legal advice and job protection.
• Senior officials of the state administration: They would face more controls: no money in tax havens and automatic removal if indicted.
• Candidates and elected officials: They could not run for office or keep their seat if indicted for serious crimes.
• Lobbyists and organizations that influence public policy: They would have to register in a public registry and follow a code of conduct.
• Citizens in general: They would have more access to public information: agendas, contracts and advertising spending.

Words worth knowing

Indemnidad laboral

Guarantee that no one can harm your job or career because you filed a complaint.

Responsabilidades por alcance

Duty to pay for damages caused by illegal or negligent acts of a public official.

Paraíso fiscal

Tax haven: a country or territory with very low or no taxes, sometimes used to hide money.

Lobby

A person or organization that tries to influence public decisions on behalf of a private group.

Enriquecimiento ilícito

Illicit enrichment: a crime for a public official whose wealth grows without being able to explain where the money came from.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries