Incoming Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who replaces President Felipe Calderón on Dec. 1, has indicated that his administration is dedicated to addressing the corruption perceived to be rampant in a country where bribery can be a part of daily life. Transparency International ranked Mexico 100th out of 182 countries on its 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index (the top spot is least corrupt), and its position has fallen for several years.
Mexico’s new Federal Law Against Corruption in Public Procurement (or “Ley Federal Anticorrupción en Contrataciones Públicas”), which took effect June 12 under Calderón’s administration and applies to Mexican and non-Mexican corporations and individuals, will aid Peña Nieto’s efforts to battle corruption. The anti-corruption law prohibits bribery and other activity meant to gain an unlawful advantage in the procurement of public contracts with the Mexican federal government. It also prohibits bribery of non-Mexican government officials and entities by Mexican individuals and corporations.