The President of Hungary announced her resignation on the Hungarian M1 news channel on Saturday over a pardon granted to a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case. “Politics is a tough, sometimes cruel world”, – said Katalin Novák. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Thursday that he had submitted a constitutional amendment that would prohibit pardons for people convicted of crimes against minors.

    Katalin Novák, aged 46, announced in a televised message on Saturday that she would step down from the presidency, a position she has held since 2022. Photo by Hannes P Albert/PAP/DPA

"I am not addressing the politicians, the policy makers, but the people I swore to serve two years ago. Last April, I decided in favor of clemency, believing that the convict had not abused his position that involved working with children. I was wrong", President Katalin Novák said on Saturday, announcing her resignation on the Hungarian M1 news channel.

Last year, Katalin Novák pardoned the deputy director of the children's home who helped the former boss cover up his criminal activities. The director was sentenced to eight years for abusing at least ten underage boys between 2004 and 2016, his deputy to more than three years in prison. Consequently, the Hungarian opposition has called on President Novák to resign.

PM Orbán: There shall be no mercy for paedophiles

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Thursday that he had submitted a constitutional amendment that would preclude pardons for people convicted of "crimes against minors". PM Orbán said he had five children and six grandchildren, adding that if anybody touched them, his first thought would be that "they must be cut in half, they must be cut into pieces". Hungarian MPs could vote on the amendment in the second half of March, Orbán stated in a video message posted on social media.

(J)