On Friday, a protest took place in Budapest, with approximately 1000 participants. Protesters demanded the resignation of the President of Hungary, Katalin Novak, reports Reuters.
In April 2023, on the eve of the visit of Pope Francis, Novak pardoned around 20 people. Among them was the deputy director of a children's home who had assisted the former shelter director in concealing sexual violence against children.
The former director had been sentenced to 8 years in prison for violence against several underage boys, committed between 2004 and 2016. His deputy received a term of over 3 years.
Hungarian opposition parties demanded Novak's resignation, as she was an ally and former Minister of Family Affairs under the conservative Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The president stated on Tuesday that she had never pardoned a pedophile, including in this case. She mentioned that the reason for her decision was not made public, and all pardons were inherently controversial in nature.
Late on Thursday, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban introduced a constitutional amendment to parliament that strips the president of the right to pardon crimes against children.
"The pardoning decision of the president of the republic has prompted a debate. This debate must be closed in a way that reassures all Hungarians," the bill text stated.
President Novak stated that she would willingly sign the amendment into law.
Protesters asserted that the only acceptable solution would be for the president to resign.
Earlier, we reported that Hungary could face consequences under the "foreign agent" law.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been threatened with the loss of voting rights at the EU summit.
