Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov has resigned in the wake of weeks of protests against remarks he made about activists for the rights of the disabled.
Simeonov resigned on November 16, saying "the continued media campaign against me...is damaging the government's rating and authority."
Simeonov oversaw economic and demographic policy and is a leader of the United Patriots party, the junior coalition partner in the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.
He earlier called rights activists "shrill women" who were "speculating" with their disabled children. He apologized after the remarks became public, but the protests continued.
The opposition Socialist and MRF parties called for Simeonov's resignation and boycotted parliamentary sessions.
Borisov's office said the prime minister had accepted the resignation.