Like almost half of their European counterparts, 56 percent of Greeks believe that corruption has grown over the past three years, especially in government institutions, according to a Eurobarometer poll published on Wednesday.

A whopping 98 percent of Greeks see corruption as one of the biggest problems facing the cash-strapped country and 79 percent say it affects their everyday lives, in stark contrast to just 29 percent of Europeans who feel affected. Also, 15 percent of Greeks say they have been asked to pay a bribe in the past year, compared to 8 percent of other Europeans.

Politicians are considered by all Europeans, and especially by Greeks, to be the most corruptible members of society, with 78 percent of Greeks saying that they believe MPs can be bribed.

Politicians also bear the brunt of the blame for the extent of the phenomenon, with 57 percent of Greeks saying that they don’t do enough to combat it and 43 percent putting the prevalence of corruption down to inadequate penalties.