The article details a severe internal crisis within the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI), revealing a public dispute between its president and a commissioner. This infighting centers on accusations of corruption, mismanagement of funds, and power struggles, with one commissioner alleging fiscal irregularities and the president citing defamation. The conflict was exacerbated by a failed proposal for voluntary retirements using surplus budget funds, highlighting deep administrative dysfunction and personal animosities among leadership. This internal disintegration is critical for open data because the INAI’s independence is already compromised by recent institutional changes. The article notes that the Federal Public Function will soon assume the INAI’s oversight responsibilities, effectively making the government both the regulator and the regulated party in transparency matters. Consequently, the institute’s ability to impartially protect citizens' right to information is severely weakened, as its autonomy has been eroded by political imposition and its internal credibility shattered by scandal. The narrative extends to broader political criticism of the current administration, with opposition leaders arguing that the new government mirrors previous regimes in suppressing dissent and maintaining high fuel taxes. The relevance to open data lies in this systemic lack of accountability; when transparency institutions are internally fractured and externally controlled by the executive branch, the mechanisms for citizens to access public information and verify government spending are fundamentally compromised, threatening democratic oversight.
Source:Published on 2025-01-15