Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigns over child abuse pardon scandal

[President Johnson]

https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/1756379946665091275

The president of Hungary has resigned live on television over a decision to pardon a man convicted of covering up a child sexual abuse case.

It was revealed last week Katalin Novak had given clemency to a man jailed for forcing children to retract sexual abuse claims against a director of a state-run children's home.

Protests calling for her to step down had been growing in Hungary.

Ms Novak apologised and said she made "a mistake" in granting the pardon.

The controversy which led to her resignation came after the names of 25 people pardoned by Ms Novak in April last year, as part of a visit to Hungary by Pope Francis, were made public by Hungarian media last week.

[...]

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

... What does the Hungarian president even do besides give pardons?

[Zinneke]

This is the country conservatives worldwide uphold as a model, folks.

[CumbrianLefty]

Anything that inconveniences Orban is fine by me.

[President Johnson]

... What does the Hungarian president even do besides give pardons?

I guess it's an ironic question, though the role is entirely ceremonial similar to most other European heads of states. As the president is only elected by parliament, it's a relatively weak position as opposed to election by popular vote.

I wonder whether Orban will again put forward a woman for the March election. Or whether Laszlo Köver will get the job. He's the speaker of the National Assembly and currently acting president. He was initially seen as the natural successor to Janos Ader in 2022 before Orban came up with Novak. He also filled in the role of acting head of state in 2012 after Pal Schmitt resigned (ironically after almost the same time into his term as Novak, albeit for plagiarism issues).

[Mike88]

Isn't the government the one that proposes a pardon list to the President, and then the President chooses, also at the advise of the government?

I mean if the President resigned, someone within the government needs to also be blamed for putting the name on the list in the first place.

[crals]

Isn't the government the one that proposes a pardon list to the President, and then the President chooses, also at the advise of the government?

I mean if the President resigned, someone within the government needs to also be blamed for putting the name on the list in the first place.

The Minister of Justice resigned as well

[PSOL]

Good riddance, institutional abusers need to be driven out.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Rare Orbán L

[Leading Political Consultant Ma Anand Sheela]

Rare Orbán L

Care to unpack that one for us, dude?

[Sir Mohamed]

Tbh, if I were Orban I'd abolish the office and/or issue a referendum like Erdogan and make him prez while PM is dissolved.

[Flyersfan232]

Tbh, if I were Orban I'd abolish the office and/or issue a referendum like Erdogan and make him prez while PM is dissolved.

why would he? the hungary Presidential office is ceremonal job the turkish president office wasnt at the time of the referendum Orban gains nothing from abolishing in fact he got more to lost the opposition will boycott the referendum and the eu will bitch and complain and it hurt his image even more

[Flyersfan232]

also my efforts to draft Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen have failed he rejected it