Bulgaria's Controversial Vice-Premier Simeonov Resigns

Valeri Simeonov, Bulgaria's vice-prime minister for demography and economy, announced his resignation on Friday evening following more than a month of protests by mothers of disabled children who were calling for him to stand down.

Simeonov blamed a media campaign against him as the reason for his sudden departure during a press conference held in the Council of Ministers in Sofia on Friday.

"The media campaign against me is damaging the entire government and its authority and has turned into a hindrance to the normal operation of the current cabinet," he told reporters.

"Power is not a goal by itself for me," he added. "I think that not making problems for the [ruling] GERB and United Patriots government now is a priority."

He concluded: "I hope my resignation would make the goal of the protests obsolete."

Simeonov has been the target of ongoing protests led by mothers of children with disabilities who are fighting for a new disability act.

The ralliers had ramped up their calls for his resignation in October after he called them "shrill women" who had been using "their supposedly ill children" for their own gain.

Simeonov is the leader of the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria - one of three nationalist parties in the minority coalition partner in the GERB-led government.

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