Pardon Mistake Leads to The Resignation of Hungary's President
Hungary's conservative president has resigned amid public outcry over a pardon she granted to a man convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case, a decision that unleashed an unprecedented political scandal for the long-serving nationalist government.
Katalin Novák, 46, announced her resignation in a televised message on Saturday, ending her tenure as president since 2022. Her decision followed more than a week of public outrage after it emerged that she had issued a presidential pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of concealing a series of child sexual abuses in a state-run children's home.
"I granted a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people," Novák acknowledged on Saturday. "I made a mistake."
Novák's resignation marked a rare instance of political turmoil for Hungary's nationalist governing party, Fidesz, which has held power with a constitutional majority since 2010. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fidesz has faced criticism for eroding democratic institutions and manipulating the electoral system and media in its favor.
Novák, a key ally of Orbán and former vice president of Fidesz, previously served as Hungary's minister for families before assuming the presidency. She had been a vocal advocate for traditional family values and child protection.
As the first female president in Hungary's history and the youngest person to hold the office, Novák's tenure was marred by controversy over the pardon she granted to a man sentenced to over three years in prison in 2018. The man was convicted of pressuring victims to retract their allegations of sexual abuse by the institution's director, who received an eight-year sentence for abusing at least 10 children between 2004 and 2016.
"I decided in favor of clemency in April last year based on the request and the available information, believing the convict had not exploited the vulnerability of the children entrusted to him," Novák explained on Saturday.
"However, I realize now that the decision lacked proper justification and could cast doubt on our commitment to zero tolerance for pedophilia. Let me be clear: there is and can be no doubt on this matter."
Also implicated in the pardon was Judit Varga, another prominent Fidesz figure who endorsed the decision as Hungary's justice minister at the time. Expected to lead Fidesz's list of candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections, Varga took to Facebook on Saturday to announce her resignation from public life.
"I take full political responsibility for endorsing the pardon," Varga declared. "As such, I will step down from my position as a member of parliament and relinquish my role as leader of the EP list."
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