Summary Turkey, along with China and Angola, are all perceived as increasingly corrupt despite growth
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- An anti-graft organization has criticized a vote in Turkey s parliament that rejected motions to send four former ministers implicated in a vast corruption scandal to trial by the country s highest court.
The ruling Justice and Development Party used its parliamentary majority to sweep away a corruption investigation that had rocked Turkish politics in 2013 and forced the ministers to step down. The four votes, however, were closer than expected Tuesday.
The Berlin-based Transparency International watchdog said Wednesday the votes had taken "the culture of political impunity to a dangerous new level" and raised questions about Turkey s willingness to tackle corruption.
Turkey, along with China and Angola, are all perceived as increasingly corrupt despite their strong economic growth in recent years, according to Transparency International s 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index.
