Hungarian President Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, resigned amid controversy over amnesty for those involved in child abuse. The move came after protests by protesters and demonstrations outside the president’s residence. Novak, who became the first woman to become president in March 2022, acknowledged her mistakes and expressed regret for the damage caused. She stressed her commitment to protecting children and families but acknowledged the amnesty casts doubt on the government’s crackdown on pedophilia. > Help prevent sexual exploitation of children in their care by their managers. The decision, taken during Pope Francis’ visit to Budapest last April, caused public outrage after it was reported by independent media 444.
In response to growing criticism, Novak immediately announced his resignation after returning from Budapest. She attended a sports competition in Qatar. Following her resignation, former Minister of Justice Judit Varga retired from public life. By approving the controversial amnesty, Varga relinquished his political and cultural leadership in the European Parliament elections. The resignation letter addresses intense public outrage over the handling of sexual assault cases and raises questions about the Hungarian government’s accountability. The opposition called on Prime Minister Orban to take responsibility and make a statement about the waiver. To stoke public anger, Orban announced plans to change Hungarian law to prevent future amnesty for convicted pedophiles. Meanwhile, Novak was temporarily replaced by Parliament Speaker László Kovel. Novak’s resignation is a significant development in Hungarian politics and the government’s handling of sensitive issues is under increasing scrutiny. Despite his influence in Hungarian public life, his departure reflects the far-reaching consequences of the country’s political turmoil.
