Pedophilia scandal:

Hungary’s president now resigns from office

The end of Katalin Novák's presidency is now sealed.(Bild: APA/AFP/Attila KISBENEDEK)

Hungarian President Katalin Novák resigned from office on Saturday evening due to the paedophilia scandal. Novák had pardoned a man who had been convicted of aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of minors. On Saturday, Hungarian state television showed a video of her resignation. The pressure from the government and opposition on the 46-year-old had recently increased.

"I have made a mistake. The amnesty decision and the lack of justification were likely to raise doubts," explained Novák. As a Hungarian citizen, she expects a head of state not to make mistakes. And if they do, then they must take responsibility, even with the decision to resign.

"I apologize to those I have offended and to the victims who may have felt that I was not standing by their side," said Novák. At the same time, former Justice Minister Judit Varga also announced her intention to retire from public life. Varga had countersigned the controversial amnesty decision as a minister. With her withdrawal, the right-wing conservative Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán needs a new lead candidate for the European elections in June.

Thousands of people protested against the president in the capital Budapest on Friday evening.(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Impeachment proceedings forestalled
Novák, who was not elected by the Hungarian parliament for a five-year term until spring 2022, may have pre-empted impeachment proceedings with her withdrawal. The ruling Fidesz party has the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament for this, although the final decision on impeachment lies with the Constitutional Court. As a result of Novák's resignation, László Köver, President of Parliament, is taking over the office of Head of State on an interim basis.

Amnesty on the occasion of the Pope's visit
The amnesty had already been granted by President Novák in April 2023 and was linked to the Pope's visit to Hungary. At the time, a press release from the Sándor Palace stated that the Pope's visit was a special occasion for the head of state to make use of his right of amnesty. However, the special case of the deputy director of the children's home had only just become known. An "attentive citizen" informed the news portal 444.hu.