(ANSA) - SOFIA, NOV 21 - The Bulgarian parliament approved today, with 116 votes to 62 against (Bulgaria's unicameral assembly is made up of 240 deputies) the resignation of the deputy prime minister Valeri Simeonov, whereas Mariana Nikolova (48), head of his political cabinet, until now, was appointed to take his place. Valeri Simeonov, leader of the National Front for the Salvation of Bulgaria, a nationalist party that is part of the 'Patriots' coalition, which is ruling with the center-right party GERB, resigned on November 16, after mothers of disabled children took to the streets and called for his resignation.

As a matter of fact, the deputy prime minister spoke of them in public in October, calling them a ''bunch of braggers'' with ''presumably sick'' children. Before this controversial declaration, mothers had protested in Sofia and other Bulgarian cities to request more state funding for the care and assistance of their children.

This is the fifth reshuffle in the third government led by prime minister Boyko Borissov (leader of GERB), following the previous resignation of ministers Nikolay Petrov (Health), Ivaylo Moskovski (Transport), Nikolai Nankov (Regional Development and Public Works) and Valentin Radev (Interior). (ANSA).