Hungary President Katalin Novak Resigns for Pardoning Accomplice in Child Abuse Case (Watch Video)

Budapest, February 11: Hungarian President Katalin Novak has resigned for pardoning a man, who was convicted in 2022, for covering up his boss' sexual crimes against minors. "As head of state, I am addressing you today for the last time. I am resigning from the office of President of the republic," Novak said on national television channel M1 on Saturday.

"I apologise to those I have offended and to any victims who may have felt that I was not standing up for them. I was, am and always will be with children and families," she added. Novak pardoned Endre K., the former deputy director of a children's home, in April 2023. The pardon, revealed by local news site 444.hu, led to protests on Friday in Budapest demanding her resignation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hungarian President Resigns Over Pardon To Man Convicted In Sex Abuse Case

Today I resigned from my office as President of Hungary. Thank you for everything to all my friends in all four corners of the world. Hungary🇭🇺 is a wonderful country with marvelous people, a good partner, an even better friend and a reliable ally. I am glad that in the past… pic.twitter.com/j4SdiezAkK

— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovak_HU) February 10, 2024

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Facebook on Thursday that he had submitted a constitutional amendment on behalf of the government to prevent a pardon from being granted to perpetrators of crimes committed against minors. "There shall be no mercy for paedophiles," Orban added.