Hungary’s conservative president resigned on Saturday amid public outcry over his pardon of a man convicted of being an accomplice in child sexual abuse, a decision that sparked an unprecedented political scandal for the nationalist government. who has served for a long time.
Katalin Novák, 46, announced in a televised message that she would step down from the presidency, a post she has held since 2022.
His decision came after more than a week of public outrage after it was revealed that he had issued a presidential pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of covering up a string of child sexual abuse at a state-run children’s home.
“I issued an amnesty that caused confusion and anxiety for many people,” Novák said on Saturday. “I made a mistake.”
Novák’s resignation comes as a rare episode of political upheaval for Hungary’s nationalist ruling party, Fidesz, which has ruled with a constitutional majority since 2010.
Under the leadership of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fidesz has been accused of dismantling democratic institutions and rigging the electoral system and the media in its favour.
Katalin Novak was given to a man convicted of being an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case. AFP via Getty Images
Novák, Orbán’s main ally and former Fidesz vice-president, served as minister for the family until his appointment to the presidency. He is outspoken in his fight for traditional family values and child protection.
She is the first female president in Hungarian history, and the youngest person ever to hold the office.
But his term ended after he pardoned a man sentenced to more than three years in prison in 2018. He was found guilty of pressuring victims to withdraw allegations of sexual abuse by the institution’s director, who was sentenced to eight years for abusing at least 10 children between 2004 and 2016.
A general view of Sandor Palace, the office of the Hungarian President in Budapest, Saturday, Feb. 10. 2024. AP
“I decided in favor of the pardon in April last year in the belief that the prisoner did not abuse the weakness of the children entrusted to him. I made a mistake,” Novák said on Saturday. “I apologize to those I hurt and to any victims who may have felt I did not stand up for them.
“As the head of state, I address you for the last time today. I resigned from the position of president of the republic,” he said.
Also involved was Judit Varga, another key Fidesz figure who was justice minister at the time and confirmed the pardon. Varga is expected to head the list of European Parliament candidates from Fidesz when elections are held this summer.
Hungary’s conservative president Katalin Novák has resigned amid public outcry over the pardon she granted to a man convicted of being an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case. AP
But in a Facebook post on Saturday, Varga announced that he would take political responsibility and “retire from public life, resigning my position as a member of parliament and also as head of the EP list.”
At the presidential headquarters in Budapest on Saturday evening, about 200 people gathered in what was originally planned as a protest to call for Novák’s resignation.
After his announcement, attendees said they were happy, but it was not enough to fundamentally change Orbán’s system of governance.
“I’m glad he resigned but I don’t think things can be resolved this way. He is not the main criminal, you have to look all the way to the top,” said Anna Bujna.
Erzsébet Szapunczay, another participant, said she was “very, very happy” with Novák’s resignation, but “he should have resigned from the first moment, like many people in this government, because he is not alone.
“His resignation is correct, because in this way he saves himself from more people who hate him and are angry because he represented this country until now,” he said.
Orbán’s Fidesz enjoys the highest level of support among Hungarian political parties, and a fragmented opposition has contributed to its four consecutive electoral victories.
His government, considered the most Kremlin-friendly in the European Union, has been criticized in the bloc for withholding key decisions such as support for Ukraine and the inclusion of Sweden in the NATO military alliance.
On Saturday, the head of the Fidesz parliamentary delegation, Máté Kocsis, said in a statement that Novák and Varga had made “responsible decisions,” and that the party was grateful for their work.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
