The Parliament accepted the resignation of the government of Ivan Kostov with 162 votes `for` to zero `against` and one `abstention`. Kostov`s government, the second for the United Democratic Forces (UtdDF) since the launch of democratic changes, took office in May 1997. Two and a half years later it came in for a bit of a reshuffle before going on to become the first post-1989 government to serve out its entire term. The launch of Bulgaria-EU accession talks, the abolition of Schengen visa requirements for Bulgarian nationals and the financial stabilization of the country are considered among its top success stories.