Dr. Péter Medgyessy
Former prime minister, Ambassador at large, extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Hungarian Republic
| Place and date of birth: | Budapest, 19th October, 1942. |
| Family: | On his father’s side his ancestors were Transylvanian lawyers, on his mother’s side Transylvanian physicians and reformed ministers |
| Family status: | Married to Katalin Csaplár |
| Children: | Gergely and Ildikó from his first marriage |
| Languages: | speaks French, English and Rumanian, understands Russian |
| Education: | |
|---|---|
| 1961-1966: | Budapest University of technology and Economics, Department of Theoretical Politics and Economy |
| Career: | |
| 1966-1982: | Works at the Ministry of Finance in different positions |
| 1982-1986: | Deputy minister of finance |
| 1987: | Minister of finance |
| 1988-90: | Deputy prime minister, responsible of economic affairs in the government at the time of the change of regime |
| 1990-94: | President and director general of the French Paribas Bank Ltd. in Hungary |
| 1994-96: | President and director general of the Hungarian Investment and Development Bank Ltd. |
| 1996-98: | Minister of finance in the Social Democratic-Liberal government |
| 1998-2001: | Chairman of the Board of Directors of Inter Európa Bank and vice-president of Atlasz Insurance Ltd. |
| 2002-2004: | Prime minister of the Hungarian Republic in the Social Democratic-Liberal government |
| 25 August 2004: | He resigns for the sake of maintaining the coalition |
| Since 14 October 2004: | He has been heading international missions assigned by the government and has obtained the title ambassador at large, extraordinary and plenipotentiary |
| Other professional and public activities: | |
| 1973-1977: | Member of the Board of the International Institute for State Finance |
| 1994-1996: | Chairman of the Hungarian Society of Economics |
| 1994-1996: | Member of the Counsellors’ Committee of the World Economic Forum in Davos |
| 1995-1996: | Member of the Board of Directors of the Hungarian Banking Association |
| 1998-2000: | Member of the Hungarian Atlantic Council |
| Since 1998: | Vice-president of the Commercial, Industrial and Cultural Chamber of Central European and Gulf Countries |
| Professional achievements: | |
| 1986: | Participated in the establishment of the two-tier banking system in Hungary |
| 1987: | As minister of finance he submitted to Parliament the new taxation system, a prerequisite for market economy |
| 1988-89: | Promoting economic liberalisation, preparing Company Law |
| 1996: | Implementation of the reform of the pension system |
| Since 1970: | he has been continuously publishing in Hungarian and international financial and economic journals |
| Educational activities: | |
| 1973-1996: | Professor at the College of Finance and Accounting |
| Orders and Decorations: | |
| 1998: | Order of Merit, Commander Cross with Star of the Hungarian Republic |
| 2000: | The French Order of Merit, Chevalier |
| 2002: | Order of the Crown of Belgium |
| 2002: | The Japanese Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star |
| 2003: | Grand Cross of the Chilean Order of Merit |
| 2003: | Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Norway |
| 2004: | The French Légion d’honneur, Grand Officier |
| 2004: | The Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany |