Amid growing anger at Hungary’s president, Katalin Novák, for issuing a pardon to a man who had been convicted of concealing sexual abuse of children, she rapidly returned from Qatar to tender her resignation.
The president of Hungary stepped down on Saturday following backlash to her pardon of a man who had been convicted of concealing sexual abuse of children.
Katalin Novák, 46, delivered a televised message on Saturday that she would throw in the towel after a Friday street protest against her pardoning decision.
“I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people,” Novák said Saturday.
Novák has served as president since 2022 and was the former family minister under conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“I made a decision to grant a pardon last April, believing that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of children whom he had overseen. I made a mistake as the pardon and the lack of reasoning were suitable to trigger doubts over the zero tolerance that applies to pedophilia,” Novák said.
According to Reuters, at least 1,000 people protested in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, on Friday demanding the resignation of Novák over her decision to pardon a man convicted as an accomplice for helping cover up a sex abuse case in a children’s home.
