site.btaMost Bulgarians Believe Corruption Widespread, EU Survey Shows

A survey presented on Wednesday by the European Commission shows that 88% of Bulgarians believe corruption is widespread, 8% say it is "rarely prevalent" and 1% say it "does not exist". By comparison, in the EU, 65% find corruption widespread, 30% find it rarely widespread and there are no responses that corruption does not exist.

Nearly half of Bulgarians (48%) believe that those found guilty of petty corruption receive "appropriate" punishments. Only 11% are of the same opinion for those found guilty of high-level corruption. According to 15%, in Bulgaria measures against corruption are applied impartially and without ulterior motives.

A majority of 76% of Bulgarians do not expect those found guilty of corruption to be charged and brought to justice. A total of 65% do not expect these cases to be reported by the police or prosecutors. A total of 84% do not expect these cases to result in fines or prison sentences.