“We are mourning now one of the most significant figures in recent European politics who did much for peaceful cooperation among peoples, and became a flagbearer of a Europe of nations. We Hungarians remember him as a friend, a committed supporter of bilateral relations,” Mr Orbán wrote.

He recalled that it was a great honour for him in 1998 when he first won the elections that Giscard d’Estaing came to Hungary and personally campaigned for his victory.

Mr Orbán said he is convinced that the former head of state “with his many decades of work, unique expertise and love for his country earned a separate chapter also in European history, in addition to the history of France”.

“Please allow me to offer you and the entire French nation, on behalf of the Hungarian people, my deepest sympathy,” the Hungarian Prime Minister concluded his message to Emmanuel Macron.

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing died on Wednesday evening in his home from coronavirus complications aged 94.