2024-02-12 02:07:34
Mass protests in Budapest they forced the first woman into office to admit his mistake and withdraw
The Hungarian president
Katalin Novak resigned after tens of thousands protested in Budapest and called for her to step down. The discontent was sparked by a scandal in which the first woman in office became embroiled when she pardoned a man convicted of child sexual abuse. Novak’s resignation is a heavy blow to the power of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, write Western publications.
“I decided to grant clemency last April, believing that the convict did not exploit the vulnerability of the children he supervised,” Novak said Saturday during a nationally televised address. “I made a mistake because the pardon and the lack of motive contributed to raising doubts about the zero tolerance applied to pedophilia,” she added.
In April last year, Novak pardoned about two dozen convicts ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to Hungary. Among them was the deputy director of a children’s home who helped his former boss hide the crimes. The principal was sentenced to 8 years in prison for sexually abusing underage boys between 2004 and 2016, and the vice-principal – who was effectively his accomplice in covering up the crime – received a 3-year sentence.
Hungarian opposition parties immediately demanded Novak’s resignation. She is a close ally of hardline nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and was a former family minister. In 2022, Novak became the first woman to hold the largely ceremonial role of President of Hungary.
On Saturday, she gave her final address as president – less than 2 years after taking office.
Novak apologized to the victims and their families in a televised speech, saying she “made a mistake.” Her apology was directed “to those I may have offended and to any victims who may have felt I did not stand up for them.” She added that she has always consistently advocated for the protection of children and families.