Hungary's Orbán faces a rare political crisis at home after president's resignation
Hungary’s long-serving government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a rare political crisis after the president resigned amid public anger over her pardoning of a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's long-serving government of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a rare political crisis after the president, a member of Orbán’s ruling party, resigned amid public anger over her pardoning of a man convicted in a child sexual abuse case.
President Katalin Novák's weekend resignation came after it was revealed that she issued a pardon in April 2023 to a man convicted of hiding child sexual abuses in a state-run children’s home. Former Justice Minister Judit Varga also announced her resignation from a seat in parliament over her role in endorsing the decision.
Some of Orbán's opponents say the resignations of two senior members of his nationalist Fidesz party are not enough, and that Orbán must bear the political consequences.
“Viktor Orbán was not ashamed to hide behind the skirts of two women instead of taking responsibility,” said Anna Donáth, a lawmaker in the European Parliament for the Hungarian opposition party Momentum. “That is why this matter cannot be allowed to close like this.”
