Bulgaria has a reputation of being not only among the poorest member  states of the European Union, but also being the most corrupt. When  three-time prime minister Boyko Borrisov's party GERB lost its majoity  in the parliamentary elections of April this year, no other party was  willing to join a coalition with the party many held responsible for the  "state capture" in Bulgaria.

 

This finally triggered new  elections, to be held on July 11th this year. In the meantime, more  scandals have come to light, including the wiretapping of politicians  and a national grafting scandal involving a state owned bank. The US  treasury, not the European Union, reacted to this state of corruption by  applying the "Magnitsky Act" and blacklisting Bulgarian companies and  oligarchs.

Will the July elections spell an end for the "Era  Borrisov" and, more importantly, the era of graft? Who are the  Bulgarians who are fighting for a better government and a better future?  And why is the European Union being seemingly so cavalier about the  situation?

Bulgarian analysts, activists, economists and  politicians debate on the future of Bulgaria and how the EU could - and  should - support those, who want change for the better.