Hungarian President Katalin Novak has resigned following outrage sparked by a decision to pardon a man implicated in child sexual abuse case.
In a statement announcing her resignation Novak apologised to those who are hurt and all the victims who may have had the impression that she did not support them.
I am, I was and I will remain in favour of protecting children and families,” Novak, 46, said.
Novak, a former minister for family policy became the first woman to hold the essentially ceremonial role of president in March 2022.
The controversy was sparked by the pardon given last April, amid a visit by Pope Francis to Budapest, to a former deputy director of a children’s home who helped to cover up his boss sexually abusing kids
Since the independent news site 444 revealed the decision last week, the country’s opposition has been calling for Novak’s resignation.
Minutes after her resignation, another ally of Orban, Judit Varga, also announced her “withdrawal from public life” for having given her approval for the pardon as justice minister.
“I renounce my mandate as an MP and the head of the list for the European Parliament,” she said on Facebook.
