Heavy trucks of road construction companies blocked traffic downtown Sofia on Monday. Protesters of the Bulgarian Branch Chamber "Roads" demand that they received their remuneration for the repairs done. They also want the resignation of the Minister of Regional Development Violeta Komitova. Construction workers are calling for a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev.
The executive director of the chamber, engineer Lazar Lazarov, has told the Bulgarian National Radio that this was not a political protest. "When traffic accidents start to occur due to uncleaned roads and people start getting stuck in the snow, then the problem becomes a common one," Lazarov said.
The road companies, united in the chamber, are ready to sue the state over unpaid 450 million euros, according to their estimates. This has become clear from a letter to the caretaker Prime Minister submitted by the chamber to the Council of Ministers.
The road construction companies withdrew their heavy vehicles from the center of Sofia. They are planning to hold another protest tomorrow. Bulgaria’s Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works came up with a statement that the protest was not about wages, but had political implications.
