Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigned from his position on Saturday amidst mounting pressure to pardon a man convicted of involvement in concealing sexual abuse at a children’s home.
In her resignation announcement broadcasted on state television, Novak acknowledged, “I made an error in judgment… Today marks my final address to you as president. Last April, I made the decision to issue a pardon, under the belief that the individual in question did not exploit the vulnerability of the children under his supervision.”
Why did Hungary President resign?
Novak’s resignation followed a week of intense public outrage, culminating in a thousand-strong demonstration outside the President’s office on Friday, where calls for her resignation echoed loudly. She faced accusations of pardoning a man convicted of aiding in the cover-up of sexual abuse within a children’s home.
In April 2023, Novak pardoned 24 people, which included the deputy director of the children’s home who was known for covering up crimes along with the former director of all the institutions. President Novak’s decision sparked widespread outrage, prompting opposition parties and thousands of demonstrators to demand her resignation at her office.
In her resignation statement, Novak declared, “I condemn Pedophilia vehemently, considering it one of the most abhorrent and serious crimes. Under my presidency, there will be no pardons for pedophiles, and this stance remains unchanged, including in this particular case.”
Setback for Victor Orban
Novak, the first woman to be elected president of Hungary in 2022, is a prominent ally of conservative Prime
Minister Viktor Orban. The revelation sparked a public uproar, with opposition parties demanding her resignation alongside former Justice Minister Judit Varga. Consequently, Varga resigned as a lawmaker yesterday.
According to Reuters, the scandal represented a rare setback for Orban, who has maintained power since 2010. This comes at a critical time as the country prepares for European Parliament elections while grappling with an inflation crisis.
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