In a surprising turn of events, Hungary's first female president, Katalin Novak, has resigned following a highly controversial pardon she granted in a pedophilia case. The decision has raised concerns for Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his ruling party, especially with local and European elections on the horizon.
Novak, who was appointed by Orban in 2022 to the largely ceremonial role, made the announcement of her resignation during a televised speech on Saturday. She took responsibility for her mistake and apologized for the pardon, acknowledging that as a Hungarian citizen, she expected the president to be accountable for their actions.
The swift resignation, coming just over a week after news of the clemency emerged, is seen as an attempt to minimize political damage for Orban ahead of the upcoming European Parliament and municipal elections scheduled for June. Orban's Fidesz party is currently the most popular political group in Hungary, and he holds a strong grip on power. However, the scandal has prompted the ruling party to assess its impact on public opinion, particularly as they aim to gain control of opposition strongholds like Budapest.
This resignation follows another political blow for Orban, as former Justice Minister Judit Varga also announced that she would no longer lead the Fidesz party list for the European Parliament elections. It seems that Orban is taking swift action to prevent any further negative repercussions.
Novak's controversial pardon involved the deputy director of a children's home who had allegedly coerced children to withdraw testimonies against his boss, who was accused of sexual abuse. The news of the pardon sparked outrage, leading to calls from the opposition for Novak to step down and causing some presidential advisers to resign.
The pardon not only tainted Novak's reputation but also undermined the image of the Orban government as a defender of family values. To limit the political fallout, Orban proposed a constitutional amendment that would prevent the president from granting pardons in cases involving crimes against children.
Novak, a 46-year-old mother of three, had presented herself as a proponent of family values and frequently shared photos on social media showing her balancing her duties as president with homemaking tasks. Prior to her presidential appointment, she served as a minister in charge of family policy.
Though she generally aligned with Orban's policies during her tenure, Novak did attempt to pursue a more conciliatory foreign policy, including with Ukraine. However, her efforts were quickly shut down by Orban's ministers, who asserted that she had no policy role.
This is not the first time Novak has issued controversial pardons. Last year, just before Pope Francis's visit to Budapest, she granted clemency to a far-right activist convicted of terrorism.
Novak's resignation adds her to the list of presidents in Hungary who have stepped down amidst scandals. Pal Schmitt, a former Olympic champion fencer appointed by Orban in 2010, resigned after facing revelations that he had plagiarized his doctoral thesis.