Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Roumen Petkov resigned on April 13, saying he was accountable for personnel choices that undermined the authority of the state and the ruling coalition.

He said that his resignation was inspired by the desire to strengthen state institutions, cooling the row around the Interior Ministry and maintaining the authority of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the senior partner in the ruling coalition, which he is a member of.

“I’ve thrown my entire energy and will to create better work conditions in the [Interior Ministry] system, given the current realities and possibilities. In no way should I be the reason for increased pressure on the ministry,” Petkov told reporters at a news conference, as quoted by Focus news agency.

“There needs to be a solid political and professional debate on the necessary deep reforms in Bulgaria’s law enforcement agencies,” Petkov said, adding that his resignation would contribute to that.

“My resignation is not a sign of weakness or collapsing under pressure, generated by slander, gossip and intrigue. It’s a sign of a clear desire for stronger state institutions.”

Earlier in the day, Petkov met with Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, who accepted his resignation.

Stanishev said it was a natural conclusion of the no-confidence vote in the Cabinet, defeated in Parliament earlier this week. The opposition filed the motion on the grounds of "the Government's ties with organised crime”.

Talking to reporters shortly before Petkov’s news conference, Stanishev said he had a replacement ready, but declined to say who his nominee was, Dnevnik daily said.

Roumen Petkov is one of several top-level ministry officials in the alleged corruption row, which has been raging for nearly a month.

He admitted meeting businessmen under investigation by police, but claimed that it was done in the best interest of the state. His numerous critics, however, accused him of being instrumental in protecting organised crime circles from police investigations.

Petkov becomes the second high-ranking Socialist politician to hand back a key ministerial portfolio as a consequence of public controversy in less than 12 months.

Roumen Ovcharov resigned in May 2007 after allegations of soliciting bribes and influencing investigations. Even though a probe never found conclusive proof of the allegations, Ovcharov was replaced in a government re-shuffle in July 2007.