Thousands of Bulgarians protested in Sofia and other cities across the country on December 18, demanding fair elections and reforms to the judiciary. Protesters say corruption is rampant in the EU's poorest country.
Protesters are demanding an independent judiciary and an end to corruption. Bulgaria has the highest corruption rate in the EU, and citizens are fed up with vote-buying and oligarchic influence. The country has held seven elections in four years due to political instability, which also threatens the transition to the euro on January 1.
