Hungary’s president has resigned amid outrage over her pardoning of a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case.
President Katalin Novak has faced days of growing pressure to resign because of her controversial decision to pardon a man who was convicted of covering up crimes committed by a sexual predator at a children’s home.
The 46-year-old announced in a televised message on Saturday that she would step down from the presidency, an office she has held since 2022.
“I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people,” Novák said on Saturday. “I made a mistake.”
Novak – the first female president in Hungary’s history – had unleashed a political scandal unprecedented for the country’s long-serving nationalist government.
There were protests in the Hungarian capital Budapest on Friday, demanding Novak’s resignation.
Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.
