Bulgarian National Assembly authorised the Road Infrastructure Agency to pay from its budget 50% of the amounts it owes to road builders. The decision was taken with a majority vote supported by the parties in the government coalition.

The other half of the money under the contracts signed for road repairs and maintenance will be paid out after an inter-agency committee audits and approves the work done, and its report is approved by Parliament.

• Road construction workers block roads in the country in protest over unpaid wages

"Isn't it embarrassing for you, colleagues from GERB, to talk about the roads, given that they have become a byword for corruption over the past 12 years?" asked Transport Committee chairman Borislav Gutsanov during the heated debate.