"Actually, Atanas Pekanov

Atanas Pekanov is an economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO) in Vienna, there is not much to gain in his old homeland Bulgaria.

The thirty-one-year-old economist is well-versed in monetary policy and is a sought-after expert - even here in Vienna, where he works at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research and teaches at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

In other words, he could have devoted himself to a career abroad," notes the Austrian newspaper "Standart" in an article about the deputy prime minister of the caretaker government Atanas Pekanov

Atanas Pekanov is an economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), in Vienna, entitled "Economist in the Service of the Old Homeland".

However, he did not say no when President Rumen Radev, whom he has advised for a long time, sought him out.

From August 2, Atanas Pekanov

Atanas Pekanov, an economist at the Austrian Institute for Economic Research (WIFO), in Vienna, is the deputy prime minister in the caretaker government of experts, which will guide the country's fortunes until the new elections.

What awaits him: an unstable political situation, poverty, corruption, the publication notes.

The Balkan country still has a long way to go to catch up with the rest of the EU countries.

At the end of June, the liberal-socialist coalition fell after just over half a year in power after a vote of no confidence.

The main disputes were about state finances and the attitude towards the Republic of North Macedonia.

Added to this was the gas crisis, tensions on the Balkan Peninsula and inflation, which weighs particularly heavily on people in the poorest EU country, commented "Standart" and added that it is a long-term crisis, and this is not for people with weak nerves.

"Uncertain situation", notes the non-partisan expert modestly.

Now he's rolling up his sleeves - for the second time.

"You also have to repay your homeland with something," adds the graduate of the German High School in Sofia, who grew up in an academic family.

He didn't have to think long about accepting the position.

Now Pekanov, who is not married and who in quieter times likes to run in Schonbrunn, in his second home of Vienna, will be in charge of managing the European funds.

"We will work hard, with competence and care for the people, to ensure that Bulgaria will pass through the next turbulences," he wrote to the Vienna edition, quoted by BTA.

Those who know him say he means what he says.

Pekanov is ambitious, but also strongly socially oriented.

This is remarkable for a man belonging to Bulgaria's educated elite who left the country because of a lack of prospects for young people.

Atanas Pekanov assumed the position of Deputy Prime Minister for the management of European funds

In Vienna, he was drawn to study.

He developed his career purposefully;

she took him to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt am Main, and he acquired his knowledge of economic policy at University College in London, according to "Standard".

During the pandemic, thanks to a Fulbright scholarship, he went to Harvard.

Now Pekanov wants to bring a bit of scientific methodology into Bulgarian politics, writes the Austrian edition and adds that the deputy prime minister does not yet know if he wants to stay in it.

Atanas Pekanov