site.btaBulgarians Like Any Ideas for Fighting Corruption by Default - Poll

Bulgarians Like Any Ideas for Fighting Corruption by Default - Poll

Sofia, March 3 (BTA) - The Bulgarians hail any ideas for combatting corruption by default, according to an express opinion poll carried out by Gallup International. The poll has been prompted by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's new political messages, related to the fight against corruption, and the legislative initiatives in this area.

According to 74 per cent of the respondents, more thorough inspections into the property of power holders would contribute to reducing corruption. More than one third of people say that during the past year they or their acquaintances witnessed cases of corruption. Any ideas for combatting corruption enjoy high approval: facilitating the sending of alerts, establishment of more centralized bodies, new legislative measures, etc.

More than two thirds approve of the idea of merging the hitherto existing main authorities for fighting corruption into a a single body. Over 90 per cent are positive about the adoption of a special law for fighting corruption at the high echelons of power.

Almost 90 per cent support measures, such as more frequent inspections, checks on media reports, transparency registers, etc., the poll shows.

Around 74 per cent back anonymous alerts. The fear of identifying oneself as an author of a report is directly relate to the lack of confidence in the institutions and the expected inefficiency in the exposure of corruption schemes, the pollsters comment.

Eighty-eight per cent of the interviewed support the idea of anti-corruption checks of related persons. 67 per cent approve of the idea to restrict contacts between politicians and representatives of the judiciary.

A high number of the interviewed consider that corruption is widely spread among civil servants, which is also indicative of lasting mistrust in the administration, Gallup International say.