Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed his congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Slovakia, Lajos Ódor, in a letter on Tuesday, 16 May.
‘Slovakia is an important ally and strategic partner for us. I am pleased that our countries have been able to effectively cooperate in various areas despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, the economic crisis, and war in recent years,’ Viktor Orbán wrote.
In his letter, Prime Minister Orbán assured his Slovak counterpart of his readiness to work together for the development of cooperation based on mutual respect. The PM also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Slovak Prime Minister, Eduard Heger, for the constructive cooperation established in recent years.
‘I am convinced that a strong alliance that connects the Central European nations and ensures the success of our region is of particular importance now, as Europe faces historical challenges. My government remains committed to enhancing the traditionally strong Hungarian–Slovak relationship and strengthening cooperation within the Visegrád Group,’ the Hungarian prime minister stated.
Lajos Ódor was born in 1976 in Komárno (Révkomárom), Slovakia. He served as the director of the Institute of Financial Policy in Slovakia and was a member of the Council for Budget Responsibility. He is the author of several educational books on economic topics and has been the Vice President of the Slovak National Bank since 2018.
While Ódor may be unknown to the majority of Slovaks and Hungarians, he is considered one of the most talented officials and experts in economic circles. From the beginning of his administrative work, he has emphasised analysis, data, and facts. His ambition has been to bring substantive debate to key areas, ranging from education and the sustainability of the pension system to steps towards catching up with Western economies.
As a specialist, he has been involved in the development of a flat-rate tax system, the pension reform, the introduction of the euro, and the creation of budgetary rules. Ódor claims that he is not a follower of any particular economic school of thought.
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