In Hungary, the resignation of President Katalin Novak was criticized for pardoning a convicted child offender.
Hungary’s president, Katalin Novak, announced his resignation on Saturday, February 10, following outrage in the country over his decision to pardon a convicted child offender.
“I resign my post”This close friend of the nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, declared recognition of the commitment during a solemn speech. “error”. “I apologize to anyone I may have hurt and to any victims who felt I did not support them. I am, have been and remain in favor of protecting children and families”, she added. like thisme Novak, 46, became the first woman to occupy this important ceremonial post in May 2022.
Controversy arose following the apology given by Shri.me Novak, a former deputy director of a children’s home, was sentenced to more than three years in prison in 2022 for covering up the actions of his superiors on the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit to Budapest in April 2023.
One of the victims committed suicide
After a few minutes Mr.me Novak, another ally of Mr. Orban, Judith Varga, also announced it “withdrawal from public life” for backing her as justice minister – a post she left this summer to lead the campaign for the European elections in June. “I renounce my mandate as Member of Parliament and as head of list in the European Parliament”She revealed on her Facebook account.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the Hungarian capital late Friday evening to protest the president’s pardon. The demonstration began with a minute of silence for the victims, then participants, sometimes accompanied by stuffed animals, were invited to raise their phones to pay tribute to one of the suicide victims.
Since disclosure by the investigation site 444 In the last week of this decision, the opposition Mme Novak, who was also the very conservative family minister (2020 – 2021) for Mr. Orbán.
On Thursday, in an attempt to calm the anger, Mr Orbán announced that he wanted to amend the constitution to exclude the possibility of pardoning child molesters.
