The Prime Minister’s Press Chief Bertalan Havasi told Hungarian news agency MTI that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has written to former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet on the latter’s 75th birthday.

Mr. Orbán wrote: “Although during the years of financial crisis in Europe and the world we might not have always seen eye to eye, one cannot deny that under your presidency the European Central Bank made a major contribution to stabilising the European economic environment, in which Hungary could and did find its own path to economic success. I can assure you that the Hungarian people will always be grateful for your valuable contribution”. The Prime Minister also wished Mr. Trichet good health and much strength in his future “distinguished professional work”.

Jean-Claude Trichet served as President of the European Central Bank between 2003 and 2011, and is currently the chairperson of Bruegel, the Brussels-based economic think tank.

(MTI)