According to the last Anti-Corruption and Integrity Outlook of the OECDSpain barely reaches a 25% compliance with lobby regulation standards or with a 0% in its practical application — figures that place us far behind the average. This data puts Spain at the bottom of the list of its partners in terms of transparency and democratic integrity.
This Wednesday, Newsline will forward the report to the spokespeople of Congress.Professionalizing Lobbying in Spain: International Lessons and Five Reform ProposalsThe report denounces the country's structural deficit in transparency and democratic integrity due to the lack of lobbying regulation. The study goes beyond diagnosis, proposing five measures inspired by international experiences to professionalize lobbying in Spain and align it with the standards of advanced democracies.
“The lack of regulation in Spain has allowed former politicians and advisors to directly influence the very sectors they regulated or supervised, without any incompatibility periods or effective controls. It is no coincidence that the consultancies and agencies that most frequently hire people from political backgrounds are also the ones reporting record revenues, distorting the market and eroding public trust,” warns Jacobo Ramos Folch, Head of Public Affairs at Newsline.
Good practices from Canada, France, the USA and Germany
The lack of regulation in Spain contrasts with the experiences of countries that have been subjecting lobbying to clear rules and strict controls for years.
to CanadaThe Lobbying Act establishes a five-year disqualification period for former ministers and senior officials. Violation is punishable by fines of up to 200.000 Canadian dollars and imprisonment.
FranceThe Sapin II Law requires the declaration of all lobbying activities. Failure to comply may result in administrative and criminal penalties.
United StatesThe Lobbying Disclosure Act requires disclosure of clients, activities, and income. Violations are punishable by fines of up to $200.000 and jail time in the most serious cases.
Germany, The mandatory federal registry includes penalties of up to 50.000 euros for those who fail to comply with their transparency obligations.
Five urgent measures for Spain
Meanwhile, in Spain, the absence of a national law has favored the proliferation of revolving doorswhere the main value of many lobbyists is not technical knowledge, but their political experience. To close this gap with advanced democracies, the Newsline report proposes five priority measures:
1. Extend the periods of incompatibilityThe current term in Spain (two years for senior officials of the General State Administration) is clearly insufficient compared to international standards such as the Canadian one, which sets five yearsand encourages immediate revolving doors. The five-year extension should This should also extend to members of parliament, senators, advisors, and political party staff. to effectively reduce conflicts of interest.
2. Create a state, public, and mandatory registry of lobbyistsSimilar to French or American Spanish, which Collect the identity of the interest representatives and the matters in which they are involvedThis register should also include information on former advisors and former politicians, to verify compliance with incompatibility periods and detect possible conflicts of interest.
3. Publish the legislative footprintWhile the registry identifies interest representatives, the legislative footprint allow to understand how those interactions influence in the development of standards. Examples such as France or the reporting system in the United States show that this mechanism strengthens traceability and transparency.
4. Establish an independent supervisory authorityIn Spain there is an Office of Conflicts of Interest, but it depends on the Executive branch and its powers are very limited. A [more comprehensive/institutional body/office/etc.] is needed. truly autonomous body that manages the registry, monitors compliance with transparency obligations and imposes sanctions, as is the case in France or Canada.
5. Professionalize lobbying activityEncourage lobbying practices to be measured by criteria of independence, rigor and legitimacyrather than through access to political agendas. This implies promoting professional standards and codes of conduct that strengthen the sector's credibility.
“These five measures are not an option, they are an indispensable condition for Spain must stop being a revolving door paradiseIf we want strong institutions and a quality democracy, we need clear rules, real transparency, and a A truly professional lobby“,” Ramos Folch points out.
