My role as a columnist is not a political one, but in furthering my central theme of "upholding the good name of Bulgaria" it is not possible to avoid the subject. For almost three years, I worked at the Council of Ministers as an advisor to a previous Bulgarian prime minister, and this gave me a privileged insight into the dynamics of the team running the country. The positive thinking and optimism generated by a new mandate that empowers real change, create a feeling of unstoppable impetus.

Continuing to live and work here, I still feel the need to correct negative images of Bulgaria as perceived from abroad, often with encouragement from ill-informed sources and irresponsible journalists. My obstinate, at times even irrational, enthusiasm about the middle- to long-term future of the country, in contrast to the apologetic stance of some of my Bulgarian friends about how far we have still to go, should therefore be explained.

It was smart of Boiko Borissov to stick to 100 days as the first test. A predecessor of his used 800, which allowed a far too generous period for disillusionment to set in. There can be no worse time to have taken office in the 20 years since the Berlin wall came down, but the first signs are very positive. GERB has presented well its "new beginning", has assembled a team that is credible, and has so quickly changed its mind on some early impulses (so typical of its leader) ranging from pipelines to power plants, that they are being applauded for quick-thinking rather than indecision.

The economy has taken a major stumble with big falls in investment, activity, exports and employment, but few disastrous corporate collapses as have been seen in more developed countries. Even our construction companies, often criticised for demanding too much money in advance of work done, have thereby gained some comfort and protection from the downturn.

Difficult times have been encountered before in the past two decades, so there is a readiness to be patient as long as there are reasonable signs of a return to growth next year. Despite growing unemployment, the state Budget for benefits remains balanced – though with difficulty – for 2010. Ordinary people who are suffering most are much less highly indebted than in many other countries, so they can somehow weather the storm for a while.

The banks and the country’s financial infrastructure are as stable as in any of the developing economies, with none so far of the traumas and massive IMF or state bailouts which have hit, on the one hand, the Baltic States, Iceland, Ukraine, and on the other hand, the US, Britain, Germany and France. There remains deep resentment of the Bulgarian oligarchs, mafiosi and mutri who got rich at everyone’s expense and still flaunt their ill-gotten wealth.

Its easy to forget that these pale into insignificance against the criminal negligence and theft, from millions of people, by Robert Maxwell, Enron, Parmalat, Royal Ahold, Bernie Madoff, US mortgage lenders, Royal Bank of Scotland and so many others in the regulated, neat and tidy economies which are the constant critics of Bulgaria as cowboy territory.  
A big difference is the failure so far to apprehend the culprits in Bulgaria. With the rapidly growing evidence of corruption in judicial appointments, the new government now has a unique opportunity, and overwhelming public support, to see through its commitment to root and branch reform. If the processes and judgements of our criminal and civil courts were finally to achieve transparency, objectivity and a sense of urgency, then my vote, if I had one, would be to elect Borissov for a second term.