The capital city of
Hungary, Budapest, witnessed a massive protest on Friday, February 16, as thousands of people came out on the streets against Prime Minister Orban-led government amid the political controversy over the Presidential pardon in a c
hild abuse case.
According to a Reuters report, tens of thousands of
Hungarians protested in Budapest at the biggest rally against Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government for years. The protest broke out after a sex abuse case pardon by President Katalin Novak led to her resignation.
President Katalin Novak, an ally of PM Orban, resigned amid the controversy last week. The step was taken after President Novak issued a Presidential pardon to a man who had been imprisoned for covering up a series of child sexual abuses by the director of a state-run orphanage, reported ABC News.
Meanwhile, the motive behind the pardoning of a man who helped to cover up the case is still unclear.
The political fallout turned into a massive protest after several online influencers called for citizens to gather at the Heroes’ Square in Budapest. The huge gathering included numerous young people who supported the cause. According to Reuters, the leaders of the protest have asked on social media, “How many more similar issues are there that we don't know about, and that have been covered up?"
They have also mentioned, “Irrespective of the (political) sides, we believe it is important for us to speak out in support of a protection of the victims (of abuse), transparency, human dignity, and honest public dialogue.”
PM Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has been facing the ire of the protestors as he tried to downplay the week-old controversy that resulted in the resignation of two of his allies. One was President Novak while the other was former Justice Minister Judit Varga, the Reuters report added. The former Justice Minister was also a key figure of the Fidesz party, who was expected to lead the list of candidates for the upcoming European Parliament election in June. However, following the series of controversies, Varga has also resigned from her parliamentary seat.
Though the recent turmoil is not expected as a threat to Orban’s rule in the 2026 elections, it can have a major impact on the coming European parliament election, reported The Guardian.
Following the stir in the country, PM Orban’s party Fidesz tried to claim that the mistakes under them had resulted in consequences that were unlike the ones done by the opposition party in the past. Apart from this, PM Orban’s Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyas briefed on Friday that the President and former Justice Minister have taken responsibility for the issue and the government is closing the matter from their side, according to Reuters.
Gulyas added to his briefing that it is important “to look into the future”, and the government will be tightening the child protection regulations.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
