The changes to the Cabinet announced on January 20 were forced by circumstances, but could open the way for new opportunities for Bulgaria to improve its performance and its image.

While it became a cause célèbre that Roumyana Zheleva had under-performed as a candidate European Commissioner, the fact that the drama led to her exiting as Foreign Minister is not a great loss given that she had hardly made an impression of any kind in that portfolio.

Her successor as Foreign Minister, Nikolai Mladenov, has a sound background, a clear grasp of foreign affairs and should indeed prove to be the articulate, intelligent and decisive voice that Bulgaria urgently needs in foreign policy. His appointment offers the genuine prospect of this country carving a meaningful role for itself in the region and on the continent.

That is to say nothing of the fact that Zheleva’s departure as candidate Commissioner has opened the way for Kristalina Georgieva to leave her World Bank desk to head for executive office in Brussels as Bulgaria’s nominee.

Zheleva may complain about the vicious and defamatory campaign against her, and no doubt it may leave her political allies spoiling for revenge, but the long-term advantage is the emergence of a substantially more credible nominee, who not only should be well-placed to boost Bulgaria’s tattered image, but also – if not more importantly – be well-qualified to work on behalf of the European Union in an area that could make a crucial positive difference to the lives of many people.

Georgieva certainly has an appropriate background and appears to have the character to fit a senior EC post well, and as such would leave any domestic political opponents – those who campaigned against Zheleva – looking nothing more than partisan and churlish.

Out of the ashes of the Zheleva debacle emerges a stronger team to lead Bulgaria. But there is more to it than that. As with the Bobbie Tsankov murder, the Zheleva fiasco gave Bulgaria’s critics in the foreign media and in EU political circles a further opportunity to bash the country, drawing on stereotypes that are well-worn but sadly, in some cases not without foundation.

While the Zheleva saga was unfolding, senior Government figures were discussing steps against organised crime, and have set themselves a deadline for action by the end of this year.

Right now, nothing could be better for Bulgaria than the wildly overdue scene of top organised crime figures being escorted to jail cells after successful convictions in court.
That is the photo opportunity that Bulgaria really needs, and will be the one that eradicates from public memory the sad spectacle of Zheleva’s ousting.