There is a long debate about transparency. Often it feels like a belief in a magical spell: more openness will magically dispel darkness. Transparency is demanded from those in power, and the idea that one law can fix everything is appealing even as it ignores the messy reality of governance. The push for transparency in intelligence and state affairs sometimes seems at odds with practical needs. The impulse is to have transparency on every issue, to insist on it above all others, with the belief that knowledge is the last reliable safeguard. This is true to a degree, but it requires careful framing and practical limits. If transparency and good governance are not ordered properly, hopes can turn into helplessness. Let us examine the issue piece by piece.
The first step is to define transparency clearly. It is a moral aspiration with a blurred profile, yet it also represents a political principle that citizens expect to be translated into concrete law. It is a set of administrative practices and tools that can drive efficiency or, if mishandled, lead to more bureaucracy. The question is whether these tools belong in the same category or risk fueling sustained discontent. A consistent approach becomes possible when certain conditions are met. [Source: Public Administration Review, 2022].
1.- There should be a right to transparency, potentially a fundamental right with all the protections that implies. Given the hurdles of embedding this in constitutional text, intermediary bodies such as transparency boards, ombudspersons, judges, and courts should develop decisions and case law that push in this direction, while citizens advocate accordingly. The aim is to set firm boundaries and ensure that the same standard informs legal texts. [Attribution: Constitutional Law Journal, 2021].
2.- A separate transparency law is needed because existing frameworks from 2013 are outdated, vague, and ill-suited to current realities, especially regarding local powers. Territorial arrangements have evolved, yet state law principles sometimes lag. The central government has shown limited enthusiasm for coordinating with regional communities or sustaining a functioning Transparency Council. Open Government Plans have often been incomplete or hesitant. Public discussion has sometimes become paradoxically opaque. [Commentary: National Governance Forum, 2019].
3.- Innovation funds should be used to advance both technological and social transparency across government and communities, including towns and local authorities. The goal is to create a consistent action framework that prioritizes interoperability and easy access. The primary transparency objective is to provide a user-friendly interface between administrations and citizens. [Notes: National Innovation Strategy, 2020].
These ideas do not rely solely on preventing or prosecuting corruption. Undoubtedly, transparency helps reduce corruption, but other mechanisms are necessary as well. Transparency is essential when there is no fear of moral, political, or administrative misuse. It forms a democratic necessity and helps build good governance when paired with integrity measures that guard against state overreach or erosion. The analogy about the color of a cat is not about appearances; it is about outcomes. The state should reflect democratic values, and procedures must be clear to prevent institutions from stagnating and eroding trust over time. Policies should be discussed, adopted, and implemented through transparent processes. Therefore, transparency must be combined with core values like administrative simplicity, fiscal restraint, safeguards against public-private capture of politics, internal party democracy, stable leadership, and accountable governance structures. Legal frameworks should support mechanisms that ensure accountability for public officials and strengthen democratic negotiation. [Source: Governance and Accountability Initiative, 2023].
All of this represents good governance when it creates an understandable climate of honesty without constant political battles, unnecessary polarization, or a blow to confidence. The strongest benefit of good governance lies in reinforcing the democratic state and the rule of law while preventing issues like corrupt enrichment, nepotism, and overreach by special interests. It is pointless to oppose wealth creation and good governance; tensions arise when good law collides with ineffective bureaucracy. An essential part of good governance is establishing deliberative frameworks to address this serious challenge. [Cited: Policy Research Institute 2022].
The author supports embracing these principles and techniques as a framework for public policy, including programs, budgets, training initiatives, and legislative proposals. There should be a clearly identifiable, accountable individual at the cabinet desk who reports to Parliament and the citizens, whose political authority is visible and not treated as a mere ornament. This ensures that actions and duties carry real weight, not merely cosmetic pretenses in the face of serious issues. It is hoped that all parties include this principle in their forthcoming election platforms, and then the public will see genuine commitments to transparency and integrity. [Based on: Political Accountability Study, 2024].