10/10/2013
Jose Maria Aznar, former Prime Minister and president of FAES Foundation, has sent a letter to the widow of Wilfried Martens, Mrs Smet, to convey his condolences on the death of the President of the European People's Party and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens. Aznar stressed in the letter that "he was an exemplary man and politician, whose hard work and vision roused the admiration of those who were privileged enough to know and treat him."
Aznar, who kept a close friendship and collaboration with Martens for twenty-five years, stated that "at this long and politically exciting stage, I was able to witness his political stature and his personal generosity." He also declared that "Martens was one of the architects of the crucial joining of the centre-right in Europe." "If the European People's Party is the main political force in the European Parliament, it is largely thanks to his leadership and ability to articulate consensus and alliances" he wrote in the letter.
Please find below the letter sent by José María Aznar:
"At this time of profound grief and sorrow, please accept my deepest condolences on the death of your husband. I would like to extend my condolences to your children, to the great family of the European People's Party and to the Belgian people. Wilfried Martens was an exemplary man and politician, whose hard work and vision roused the admiration of those of us who were privileged enough to know and treat him."
I pride myself on having kept a close friendship and collaboration with your husband for twenty-five years. At this long and politically exciting stage, I was able to witness his political stature and his personal generosity. Wilfried Martens was an excellent ally of the Spanish People's Party, the political party that I presided for fourteen years and a great friend of Spain.
Your husband was one of the architects of the crucial joining of the centre-right in Europe. If the European People's Party is the main political force in the European Parliament, it is largely thanks to Wilfried Martens' leadership and ability to articulate consensus and alliances.
Wilfried Martens' passing leaves a void difficult to fill. Europe has lost a great statesman and the EPP one of its most brilliant, determined and committed leaders.