In a stunning turn of events, Hungary's conservative president, Katalin Novák, has announced her resignation amidst widespread public outcry over a controversial pardon she granted to a man convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case. The decision has sparked an unprecedented political scandal for the long-serving nationalist government.

Novák, who has held the presidency since 2022, made her announcement in a televised message on Saturday, following more than a week of mounting public outrage. It was revealed that in April 2023, she issued a presidential pardon to a man who was convicted of hiding multiple instances of child sexual abuse in a state-run children's home.

Expressing remorse for her actions, Novák acknowledged her mistake, saying, "I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people. I made a mistake." The resignation of Novák, a key ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former vice president of the ruling Fidesz party, comes as a rare episode of political turmoil for the nationalist governing party, which has held a constitutional majority since 2010.

Under Orbán's leadership, Fidesz has faced accusations of undermining democratic institutions, manipulating the electoral system, and exerting control over the media. Novák, who previously served as the minister for families, has been known for her outspoken advocacy of traditional family values and child protection.

However, her term as president has come to an end after pardoning a man who was sentenced to over three years in prison. The individual was found guilty of pressuring victims to retract their claims of sexual abuse by the institution's director, who himself received an eight-year sentence for abusing at least 10 children between 2004 and 2016.

Admitting her lapse in judgment, Novák stated, "I decided in favor of clemency in April of last year in the belief that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of the children entrusted to him. I made a mistake." She extended her apologies to those affected and to any victims who felt she did not stand up for them, emphasizing that her resignation marked the end of her tenure as head of state.

This political scandal also implicates Judit Varga, another prominent figure within Fidesz, who was the minister of justice at the time and endorsed the controversial pardon. Varga has announced her retirement from public life, resigning both as a member of parliament and as the leader of the EP list.

The resignation of Novák has been met with mixed reactions. A protest had originally been planned, with around 200 people gathering at the presidential headquarters in Budapest. While some attendees expressed satisfaction with her decision, they believed that it was not enough to bring about fundamental changes to Orbán's governance system. They called for a deeper examination of the leadership.

With Fidesz enjoying the highest level of support among Hungary's political parties and a fragmented opposition, Prime Minister Orbán's hold on power remains strong. Following Novák's resignation, Máté Kocsis, the head of Fidesz's parliamentary delegation, expressed gratitude for the resignations of Novák and Varga, calling it a "responsible decision."

The political fallout from this scandal is likely to continue, shining a spotlight on Hungary's governance and raising questions about accountability and transparency within the nationalist government.