Hungarian President Katalin Novák Resigns Amidst Pardon Controversy
Budapest, Hungary – February 11, 2024 – Hungarian President Katalin Novák announced her resignation today, bowing to intense public pressure following the revelation of a controversial pardon she granted to a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case.
Novák, the first female president of Hungary and the youngest person to ever hold the office, announced her decision in a televised address. She acknowledged the pardon, issued last year, had caused "bewilderment and unrest" and acknowledged it was a mistake.
The pardon recipient, identified as Gyula Zsigó, was a manager at a children's home where multiple cases of sexual abuse went unreported and allegedly covered up. Zsigó was convicted as an accomplice after the abuse came to light, receiving a suspended sentence.
However, Novák's decision to pardon Zsigó sparked outrage. Critics condemned the move as insensitive to victims and undermining the fight against child sexual abuse. Protests erupted in Budapest, demanding her resignation.
The controversy also tarnished the ruling Fidesz party, with whom Novák is closely associated. Judit Varga, a key Fidesz figure and Minister of Justice who endorsed the pardon, also resigned amidst the political firestorm.
Novák's resignation marks a rare moment of political turmoil for the Fidesz government, which has held a parliamentary majority since 2010. It remains unclear who will succeed Novák, but the upcoming presidential election could offer a glimpse into the Hungarian public's sentiment towards the current leadership.
