Hungary’s President Resigns Amid Backlash Over Pardon of Child Sexual Abuse Case
Hungary was thrown into turmoil over the weekend as President Katalin Novák announced her resignation following a wave of backlash against her decision to pardon a man convicted of concealing child sexual abuse. The 46-year-old president, who had been in office since 2022 and previously served as the family minister under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, made the announcement in a televised message on Saturday. The decision came after a street protest on Friday, where at least 1,000 people gathered in Budapest demanding Novák’s resignation.
Novák acknowledged the controversy surrounding her pardon in her statement, saying, “I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people.” She admitted to making a mistake and expressed regret for the lack of reasoning behind her decision. Novák had granted the pardon in April 2023, believing that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of the children he had overseen. However, her actions triggered doubts about Hungary’s zero-tolerance policy towards pedophilia.
The protest against Novák took place while she was in Doha attending a meeting regarding the World Aquatic Championships. She posted a message on her social media account, X, about her activities in Doha but did not address the pardon. However, she was forced to cut short her trip and return to Budapest to address the growing scandal.
The controversial pardon involved the deputy director of a children’s home who had helped the former director hide his crimes. The former director had been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing underage boys between 2004 and 2016, while the deputy director received a sentence of over three years. Novák’s decision to pardon around two dozen people, including this individual, was made ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.
The backlash against Novák’s pardon extended beyond the public protests. Opposition parties in Hungary also called for her resignation, with protesters holding signs demanding her departure. Bela Sedan, a 53-year-old carpenter, expressed his support for Novák’s resignation, stating, “Someone who makes a mistake like this should go away and not represent me as president of the Hungarian Republic.”
In an attempt to contain the political fallout from the scandal, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán submitted a constitutional amendment to parliament that would strip the president of the right to pardon crimes committed against children. Orbán’s Fidesz party is preparing for the European Parliament elections in June, and he hopes that this move will reassure the Hungarian public.
The controversy surrounding Novák’s pardon has also affected other members of Orbán’s government. Judit Varga, the former justice minister and expected leader of Fidesz’s list for the elections, announced her resignation on Facebook, taking responsibility for the decision. Orbán and Fidesz had won a fourth-term election victory in 2022, with Orbán proclaiming that their brand of Christian democratic, conservative, patriotic politics was the future.
Orbán has been known for his strong stance on traditional values and opposition to immigration. In October, he compared Hungary’s membership in the European Union to the Soviet communist occupation of the country. His policies include restricting immigration and opposing the absorption of migrants and refugees from the Middle East and North Africa.
The resignation of President Katalin Novák marks a significant turning point in Hungarian politics. The fallout from her controversial pardon has shaken the government and raised questions about Hungary’s commitment to combating child sexual abuse. As the country moves forward, it remains to be seen how this scandal will impact the upcoming European Parliament elections and the future of Hungarian politics.
