In Bulgaria, during the nearly 25 years since the fall of the Iron Curtain, the old communist elites have brought large parts of the state and the economy under their control. Elements of a well-functioning democracy such as quality journalism, legal certainty as well as policies committed to the welfare of the people are partly or totally absent. However, a civil societal protest movement from the Bulgarian middle class is emerging. They hope for support from Brussels to push for necessary reforms.