Several of the headlines on the morning after the first sitting of Bulgaria’s new Parliament reflected the mood of expectation around Boiko Borissov’s forthcoming government.
Among the headlines, we were told that Borissov had instilled a "Fear Factor" in his party by making it clear that action and effectiveness were expected of them, and that indolence would carry severe penalties. Another said that the prime-minister-to-be would not be allowing MPs to go on a summer holiday.

There were encouraging messages, too, from the new Speaker, Tsetska Tsacheva, that the legislature would be made more effective, less tolerant of abuses such as voting with other MPs’ cards, while ensuring that NGOs and civil society were consulted about planned legislation.

The message that there is no time to rest is an appropriate one right now. Against a bitter background of many Bulgarians who have enforced leisure because they have lost their jobs, or who in the context of the financial and economic crisis cannot afford a holiday, it seems correct that those who sought and won public office should forget any idea of leisure time of their own.

At this writing, the names of most of the future cabinet ministers are not yet known, although Borissov has promised to set a record in forming a government. He has said that members of parties other than his own could be included among his ministers, if their skills are up to scratch.

Given that Borissov would be the first head of government for a long time to have a relatively free hand in making ministerial appointments, without – for example – the need to take a coalition formula into account, it would be refreshing if appointments were made on the basis of merit. In many areas of administration, Bulgaria has languished too long under the dead hand of incompetence and complacency.

It is to be hoped that Borissov drives through the idea of reviewing the energy projects to which Bulgaria has some form of commitment. In this area, an approach that is systematic and motivated by considerations of efficiency would be an improvement on one that has been ad hoc and driven, in some cases, by factors that seem to have more to do with old loyalties than anything else.

Borissov’s administration will be well-placed to take action because, for the moment, there is sufficient goodwill at home and abroad willing to help to make it work. Now is the time not for retrospection, but for getting underway.