Hungary’s President Katalin Novak resigned on Saturday following public outcry in the country over a decision to pardon a man involved in a child sexual abuse case.
“I am stepping down from my position,” said Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, admitting to making “a mistake.”
“I apologize to those I have hurt and to all the victims who may have felt unsupported by me. I have always been and will continue to be in favor of protecting children and families,” added Novak, 46.
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Novak, who previously served as the minister for family policy, became the first woman to assume the ceremonial role of president in March 2022.
The controversy erupted after the pardon was granted last April to a former deputy director of a children’s home who had assisted in covering up sexual abuse by his superior.
The decision coincided with a visit by Pope Francis to Budapest.
Following the revelation of the pardon by the independent news site 444, opposition leaders in the country demanded Novak’s resignation.
Shortly after Novak’s announcement, another ally of Orban, Judit Varga, declared her “retreat from public life” for her role in approving the pardon as the justice minister.
Varga resigned from her position as justice minister to lead a European Parliament election campaign.
“I am relinquishing my position as a member of parliament and as the leader of the European Parliament candidate list,” she stated on Facebook.
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