President Katalin Novak of Hungary has resigned from her mostly ceremonial role following public outrage over her pardoning of a man involved in a sex abuse scandal at a children’s home. The man was convicted of covering up sexual abuse at a state-run facility and was one of over 20 individuals pardoned by Novak last year before a visit by Pope Francis. Novak, known for her advocacy of traditional values, made the decision to step down in response to the backlash from both within and outside of her conservative Fidesz party.
Novak’s resignation, although unlikely to weaken Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s hold on power, tarnishes Fidesz’s image as defenders of Christian values and critics of pedophilia. Orban has heavily emphasized protecting children from predators as part of his political messaging, portraying himself as a champion of traditional family values against perceived threats from the European Union.
Several Fidesz politicians, including a mayor caught in a scandal involving an orgy with prostitutes, have faced sex-related controversies in recent years. Jozsef Szajer, a Fidesz member of the European Parliament who helped write Hungary’s constitution to ban same-sex marriage, resigned after a scandal involving attending an all-male orgy in Brussels.
In response to the backlash over Novak’s pardon, Fidesz has proposed amending Hungary’s Constitution to prevent future pardons for individuals convicted in crimes against children. The resignation of Novak marks another high-profile figure in Fidesz tainted by scandal, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the party despite its electoral success.
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