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Katalin Novak

Photo: Andrew Medichini / AP

Hungary's President Katalin Novák has come under fire from the opposition and government for her handling of the issue of pedophilia. It recently became known that Novák pardoned a man who had been legally convicted of aiding and abetting the sexual abuse of children and young people. The case sparked widespread outrage. The right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán then announced that he would implement a constitutional ban on pardons for criminals in connection with child sexual abuse. For the first time he criticized - albeit indirectly - his political colleague Novák.

»There is no mercy for pedophile perpetrators. That is my personal belief. A discussion has arisen about the legal framework for pardons by the President," Orbán said in a video posted on his Facebook profile. He did not mention Novák's name. She was a leading politician in Orbán's Fidesz party until she took office in 2022 and was elected president by parliament at the prime minister's suggestion. As family minister, she had previously propagated a traditional image of the family and women.

Orbán's government particularly wants to be seen as a protector of children from sexual violence. In 2021, she implemented a controversial so-called child protection law that prohibits teaching children about homosexuality in schools. Distributors of relevant publications are also obliged to make them inaccessible to minors. Critics say the spirit of this law equates homosexuality with pedophilia.

Home director protected

The man pardoned by Novák was the deputy director of a children's home in Bicske near Budapest. According to the court ruling, he forced children to recant their testimonies as victims of abuse against the home director in order to exonerate his boss. The home director was sentenced to eight years in prison. His deputy, who has now been pardoned, received a prison sentence of three years and four months.

The pardon had already taken place in May 2023. Novák did not comment on the motives. Opposition media suspect that the pardonee has good relations with the Catholic Church and Viktor Orbán's family.

sak/dpa