The square in front of the presidential palace in Budapest was filled with protesters who celebrated the resignation of President Katalin Novák, criticized for pardoning a man involved in a case of sexual abuse of minors.
ADVERTISING
Hundreds of protesters gathered on Saturday afternoon at the Presidential Palace in Budapest to celebrate the resignation of Katalin Novak, following the scandal raised after the pardon granted to a person involved in a case of child abuse.
Protesters say they are “happy” with the president’s resignation. But, at the same time, they believe that the events that led to the controversy happen thanks to the system created by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and that, therefore, in their opinion, dismissal is not enough to put an end to the matter.
Novak is an ally of Viktor Orbán and part of his Fidezs party. Protesters fear that another member of the party will be elected new president.
Novak’s resignation
The first Hungarian woman to hold the presidency, 46-year-old Katalin Novak, resigned on Saturday, following a scandal of sexual abuse of minors. In April 2023, during Pope Francis’ visit to Hungary, the President of the Republic pardoned 20 prisoners.
Among them, a man convicted of concealing child sexual abuse in a state-owned children’s home. Novak admitted it was “a mistake”. Furthermore, at the time of the events, the now former president was Minister of Family Affairs.
Varga resigns from public life
A few minutes after Novak, former Justice Minister Judit Varga announced that she would renounce her “public life.”
Varga was in charge of Justice at the time of the pardon and it was she who signed the document. She has since left the government but was considered one of Fidezs’ key figures to lead the party into the next European elections.