Yesterday Ferenc Madl was buried in a moving ceremony with military honours in the Fiume Street Public Cemetery and a mass was held in the Basilica in his honour. President of Hungary between 2000 and 2005, he was respected for his propriety, knowledge and personal humility. As a judicial and non-partisan expert, he sent legislation back to Parliament or the Constitutional Court on many occasions when he felt it was inappropriate in some respect. He was a firm believer in the Rule of Law and wrote many books and articles on this issue.
I first met President Madl in the early 1990’s, when he was performing many varied roles as Minister without Portfolio under the first post-Communist government in Hungary. He was always a good friend to the UK and I recall him helping us on a selection panel to award Chevening scholarships to Britain to young Hungarians at that time. As President he went on a State Visit to the UK in 2002, when he was awarded a prestigious honorary Knighthood, and went back on a private visit in 2004 when he had tea with HM The Queen. He attended many events at the British Embassy and Residence over the years. I last met him at lunch just a few weeks ago with his delightful wife Dalma, when he seemed as engaging, fit and friendly as ever. So his sudden demise was quite a shock.