Hungarian president resigns after controversial pardon – DW – 02/10/2024

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The president of Hungary, Katalin Novak, faced with a wave of indignation for having pardoned a person involved in sexual abuse of children, presented her resignation this Saturday (02/10/2024). “I am resigning from my position,” declared Novak, politically close to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, acknowledging having made “a mistake.” “Today I speak to you for the last time as president,” she said in a video broadcast on public television, after returning early from a visit to Qatar.

“I apologize to those I hurt and to all the victims who may have had the impression that I did not support them. I am, was and will continue to be in favor of protecting children and families,” added the former Minister of Community Affairs. Familia, 46 years old, who became the first female president of this central European country in 2022, a mainly protocol role.

The controversy broke out as a result of the pardon granted in April 2023, during Pope Francis’ visit to Budapest, to a former deputy director of a home for minors, who was sentenced in 2022 to more than three years in prison for covering up the abuse. for years by the director of the center to institutionalized children and adolescents. The presidential position in Hungary has primarily representative attributes, although it also includes signing pardons for prisoners at the proposal of the Government.

Katalin Novak, received in audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican in August last year.Image: Vatican Media/Catholic Press Photo/IPA/ABACA/picture alliance

The country’s opposition had been calling for Novak’s resignation since the independent news portal 444 revealed the decision last week. In response to the controversy, Orbán this week proposed a constitutional amendment that would ban future pardons for those convicted of crimes against children. On Friday afternoon, thousands of Hungarians gathered in front of the presidential headquarters in Buda Castle, calling for Novak’s resignation, believing that she is no longer worthy of the position.

A few minutes after Novak’s resignation, another of Orban’s allies, Judit Varga, also announced her “retirement from public life” for having approved the pardon as Minister of Justice, a position she recently left to head the candidacy. of the ruling party, Fidesz, to the elections to the European Parliament. A candidacy from which she also resigned.

lgc (afp/efe)

Rally yesterday in Budapest to demand the resignation of the still president Katalin Novak.Image: Denes Erdos/AP Photo/picture alliance