Pedophilia scandal

President resigned: Now Orban speaks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán commented for the first time on the resignation of President Katalin Novák

(Bild: AFP)

Hungarian right-wing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivered his 25th State of the Nation address in Budapest on Saturday. The appearance took place amid a scandal surrounding the pardoning of a pedophile offender, which has triggered a wave of outrage in the country and implicated Orbán and his ruling party Fidesz. Orbán spoke out for the first time since the resignation of President Katalin Novák a week ago. He described this as a "nightmare that has affected us all".

Last April, Novák had pardoned the supporter of a pedophile children's home director who had been convicted of complicity. The decision became public at the beginning of February following a media report.

Mass demonstration in Budapest
Novák and the then Minister of Justice Judit Varga, who countersigned the pardon, were forced to withdraw from politics last Saturday. The outrage of society was reflected in a mass demonstration on Heroes' Square in Budapest on Friday. More than 50,000 people took part in the event organized by Youtubers and influencers for the protection of children.

Mass demonstration in Budapest

(Bild: AFP)

Orbán praises Novák
The year 2024 could not have got off to a worse start, Orbán began his speech. Orbán praised outgoing President Novák, who had worked and fought for Hungary. Although her resignation was the right thing to do, it was also a great loss for Hungary. Her decision to pardon an offender convicted of covering up paedophile crimes had been rejected by the vast majority of Hungarians.

Katalin Novák

(Bild: APA/AFP/ATTILA KISBENEDEK)

(Bild: APA/AFP/Attila KISBENEDEK)

Orban announces strengthening of child protection
Maintaining national unity is the most beautiful and most difficult task of the head of state. Orbán emphasized that if this unity becomes unbalanced, remedial action must be taken. Novák had not been able to restore this unity, as evidenced by her resignation. This could only happen with the election of a new head of state. In his speech, the head of government did not give any details about who this would be. Orbán announced the strengthening of child protection, stricter regulations and the preparation of a new legislative package for child protection.

"Even good people can make bad decisions"
In connection with former Justice Minister Judit Varga, who was actually intended to be the leading candidate of the ruling Fidesz party in the upcoming EU elections, the prime minister reminded the audience that she had countersigned the amnesty decision. "Even good people can make bad decisions." With regard to the debates following the resignations, Orbán emphasized with a side-swipe at the opposition: there is "more dignity in the little finger of the two women than in all the leaders of the left".

Former Justice Minister Judit Varga

(Bild: AFP)

Orbán focuses on energy independence
But now life goes on, the prime minister emphasized and admitted that it had not been possible to keep the budget deficit low and maintain economic growth. At the same time, Hungary is "only a few years away from energy independence", he said, referring to both the construction of the Paks II nuclear power plant and the expansion program for solar energy, "which is galloping like a runaway horse". In connection with the construction of the controversial battery factories in Hungary, Orbán promised that only plants that meet European standards would be allowed to be built.