President of Hungary resigns after scandal
Katalin Novák, President of Hungary (photo: Getty Images)
Hungarian President Katalin Novák announces her resignation from the post.
Novák announced her resignation after causing a huge public outcry with her decision to pardon a convicted pedophile.
"I apologize to those whom I offended and to all the victims who may have felt that I did not stand up for them. Today is the last time I address you as head of state, I am resigning as president," she said in her video message.
The new president will be elected by the Hungarian parliament. They will have 30 days to do so from the moment the president's powers are terminated.
Why Novák resigned from office
The scandal that erupted recently is related to Novák's decision to pardon about 20 people in April 2023, on the eve of the Pope's visit to Hungary.
Among those pardoned was the deputy director of an orphanage who helped cover up the crimes of the former director, who was convicted of sexually abusing several underage boys in 2004-2016.
Novák is the first woman to serve as president of Hungary and the youngest in the country's history. Novak was elected president at the age of 44. In addition, Novák is the vice chairman of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party.
