April 26 (SeeNews) - Freedom in Bulgaria is still negatively influenced by political corruption and organised crime, US-based independent watchdog organisation Freedom House said.
"Anticorruption laws are not adequately enforced, including in high-profile cases, contributing to a culture of impunity," Freedom House said in its 2022 Freedom of the World report published last week.
The country's judiciary has been inefficient in tackling high-profile corruption cases, the report also read.
"Although Bulgaria has laws meant to ensure that the government operates with transparency, they are only partially enforced. While the transparency in the work of parliament, the cabinet, and municipal bodies has increased considerably in recent years, public access to information about budgets and spending of various government agencies is sometimes inadequate or presented in an inaccessible way," Freedom House added.
As regards media freedom, Bulgaria's media sector remains pluralistic, but outlets face increasing pressure to provide government-friendly coverage, according to Freedom House.
Media ownership remains opaque, while journalists at times encounter threats or violence in the course of their work, the organisation added.
Bulgaria was classified as a 'semi-consolidated democracy' in the 2022 report, with a score of 58 points, same as its score a year earlier.