President Resigns After Making Huge Mistake

Hungarian President Katalin Novák has tendered her resignation amidst backlash stemming from her decision to pardon a man implicated in concealing a sex abuse case at a children’s home

The controversy, which erupted following a report by local news outlet 444.hu, elicited widespread condemnation and prompted calls for Novák’s resignation from Hungary’s opposition.

Acknowledging her error, Novák expressed regret during a televised address on Saturday, extending apologies to any victims who felt let down by her actions. Her departure leaves the responsibility of the presidency temporarily with László Kövér, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, until a new president is elected by the parliament.

The debacle presents a political challenge for Orbán, who has championed family-oriented policies and positioned himself as a defender of children’s rights. Novák, who assumed office in 2022, had aligned herself with conservative Christian values and family-centric governance.

In response to public outcry over the pardon, Orbán’s government hastily proposed a constitutional amendment aimed at curtailing the president’s authority to pardon individuals convicted of crimes involving minors. However, public outrage persisted, prompting Novák to truncate a foreign trip and announce her resignation.

Novák’s political downfall marks a rare setback for Orbán, a dominant figure in Hungarian politics for over a decade. Orbán, eyeing a bolstered political presence ahead of European Parliament elections, has faced a turbulent week with two resignations.

Judit Varga, former justice minister who endorsed the controversial pardon, also declared her resignation on Saturday, stepping away from parliamentary duties and relinquishing leadership of the Fidesz list for the European Parliament election. Máté Kocsis, head of the Fidesz faction in the Hungarian parliament, praised the resignations as a display of accountability, emphasizing that mistakes carry consequences within the political spectrum.

In a social media post, Péter Magyar, Varga’s former spouse with ties to government circles, announced his resignation from state-owned positions, citing his refusal to be associated with a system where culpable individuals evade responsibility.