As President-elect Donald Trump transitions into the White House, critics are already
fearful that the businessman-turned politician may use his newfound power to make himself
and his family even richer than they already are.
Some worry that having Trump’s children run his business could ultimately lead to
them making deals with foreign governments, allegedly independent of the President, but
using his influence nonetheless.
This sort of scenario has been likened to a “kleptocracy”, so what does this mean,
and who are some of the world’s worst kleptocrats?
Well, in short, a kleptocracy is a pejorative term used to describe a system of government
where the leader, or the “kleptocrat” uses the state to enrich their own life.
This is done at the expense of the country’s population, which in most cases of documented
kleptocracies, is often in poverty or near it.
The term “klepto” is greek for “thieves”, and the word “kleptocracy” means “rule
by thieves”.
A large number of world leaders can be pointed to as kleptocrats, and in 2004, Transparency
International released a Global Corruption Report, detailing which world leaders had
syphoned the most money from their country.
Although all the leaders have since been removed from office, or left of their own accord,
the amount of stolen money is noteworthy.
At the top of the list is Indonesia’s former president, Suharto.
Over his more than 3-decade-reign, he is alleged to have stolen as much as 35 billion dollars,
or roughly 4% of the entire country’s GDP.
It is alleged that the president’s family held a virtual monopoly over any construction
or development being done in the country.
International companies would compete for excessively priced contracts, which would
ultimately be paid by the government.
But the actual people doing the work would be connected to some member of Suharto’s
family, thereby making sure than any construction would result in more money for the family.
This form of corruption was so standardized that it was reportedly easier for a project
to get built if it was connected to Suharto, because even though it would often be more
expensive, it would also be prioritized.
Another notable kleptocrat was Jean-Claude Duvalier [doo-vahl-YAY], the former president
of Haiti from 1971 until he was overthrown in 1986 and forced into exile.
Not only did Duvalier syphon as much as $800 million dollars, according to Transparency
International, he spent state funds on many personal expenses.
In one case, he allegedly spent $3 million dollars on a wedding for himself.
Worse yet, Duvalier’s family was implicated in trafficking narcotics through the government,
and even allegedly selling organs and limbs taken on the black market just to pad the
family’s bank account.
At the time, Haiti was one of the most poverty stricken countries in the world, and Jean-Claude’s
reign only left the country worse off than it began.
Often included among kleptocrats is current Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One former fund manager in Russia has alleged that Putin’s real personal wealth is close
to 200 billion dollars, built on the back of corruption in government.
For example, one official recounted running a program collecting money from wealthy donors
to be spent on healthcare.
Instead the money was diverted to build a $1 billion-dollar private palace for Putin.
Other, more direct deals have included reports of Putin secretly allowing an oil company
to be the sole provider of oil to a major airport, in exchange for a 4% stake in the
company itself.
Although not substantiated, rumors of corruption and money frequently changing hands would
be nothing new for the Putin regime, nor for Russia in general.
Kleptocracies are common in developing parts of the world where there is little accountability
in government, and leaders often wield absolute power.
Although the United States does not fit this description, many are still concerned about
a potential kleptocracy under President-elect Donald Trump.
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Trump’s businesses have been the focus of potential corruption in his administration.
So, how would Trump navigate the legal grey area of running his business and being the
president?
Is he even allowed to do that?
Find out, in this video.
The ethics in government act in 1978 does not require that the president sell or change
how they handle their private businesses.
In fact, only unelected officials who serve in the executive branch are prohibited from
a business-based conflict of interest.
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