Ferenc Madl, Hungarian icon, former President of the Republic passes away at age 80

The late Ferenc Madl (President of Hungary between Aug 4, 2000 ? Aug 5, 2005) has passed away at the ripe old age of 80 on May 29, 2011, based on a press release made by the State Presidency.

He was the President supervising the offices of three Hungarian Prime Ministers, namely Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Peter Medgyessy and Ferenc Gyurcsany. Madl’s voting into office in 2000 caused a major European scandal as the Hungarian Parliament, which had allegedly come to a consensus about his appointment was forced to vote three times as the majority socialist and free democratic alliance MPs declined his appointment twice. Eventually he was appointed as there was no other candidate available, political analysts said.

They added it was during Madl’s office (he was the second President of the third Republic of Hungary) domestic politics saw the most fanatic dog-fighting left and right of the regime. While the Socialist party (under the leadership of Laszlo Kovacs) were in a political fued against the centre-right opposition party Fidesz. They also staged a political coup and ousted legally elected PM Peter Medgyessy to replace him with illegal appointee and political playboy Ferenc Gyurcsany.

Political analysts agree that Gyurcsany caused the worst hostility, in-fighting and party corruption Hungarians had ever witnessed in living memory.

Despite the hardships and political challenges, Madl stood his ground and was even awarded the Gold Medal of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe (for his commitment to peace, liberty, justice and solidarity in Europe) on Nov 8, 2002. Madl was also an Honorary Co-Chair for the World Justice Project that leads a global, multi-disciplinary task force to strengthen the rule of law in the development of international communities.