Original article: Cercana a Kast Katlin Novak: Presidenta de Hungría renunció a su cargo en 2024 tras indulto en caso de abusos sexuales de menores
As José Antonio Kast’s administration grapples with its most severe crisis due to reduced sentences for 56 convicted sex offenders, a similar incident in Hungary led to the resignation of Katalin Novak, a key ally of Viktor Orbán and predecessor to the Chilean president in the far-right organization Political Network for Values.
By Maximiliano Alarcón
The government of José Antonio Kast is facing its toughest moment since taking office seven months ago, and considering the gravity of the situation, there seems little chance for stabilization going forward.
On October 21, the newspaper Interferencia revealed that the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights had reduced the sentences for 56 individuals convicted of sexual abuse and rape of minors.
This issue is not isolated within the far-right landscape globally; a similar scenario in Hungary in 2024 forced then-president Katalin Novak to resign.
The situation exploded when the independent Hungarian media outlet 444.hu uncovered that in 2023, Novak signed a presidential pardon for Endre Kónya.
Better known as ‘Endre K.’, he was the deputy director of a children’s home in Bicske.
In 2022, he was sentenced to over three years in prison for complicity and concealment of the sexual abuses committed by the institution’s director against at least ten children.
According to judicial investigations, not only did he fail to report the abuses, but he also pressured the victims to retract their statements.
The pardon was granted in April 2023 during a series of presidential clemencies linked to the visit of Pope Francis to Budapest but remained confidential until February 2024 when 444.hu made it public.
The fallout was immediate. Novak, who built her political career as a former Family Affairs Minister and as a proponent of the «protection of children» and «traditional family values» espoused by the Fidesz party (Hungarian Civic Union) led by Viktor Orbán, found herself under intense scrutiny.
Thousands took to the streets in Budapest to demand her resignation, which was realized on February 10, 2024, when Novak announced her departure in a national television address.
«I resign from my position,» she declared, acknowledging that she had made a «mistake» and deemed herself unworthy of the role.
Alongside her resignation, Judit Varga, the former Minister of Justice who endorsed the pardon and was then leading Fidesz in the European elections, stepped down as well.
The Hungarian Parliament formally accepted her resignation weeks later, marking the most severe political crisis the Orbán government has faced in over a decade.
The parallels with Chile are unavoidable. While legally a presidential pardon and an administrative sentence reduction differ, the political essence remains the same: an administration that touts being tough on crime and championing family values ends up granting leniency to those convicted of sexual offenses against children.
Moreover, there is a direct link between Katalin Novak and José Antonio Kast: Political Network for Values, the international far-right organization, was led by the former Hungarian president until 2022, when she was succeeded by the current Chilean president who held the position until 2024.
In Hungary, apologies were not enough for the far-right. Will they be sufficient for Kast?
By Maximiliano Alarcón
El Ciudadano
Obtén tu Pasaporte y apoya a El Ciudadano
Elimina la publicidad, accede a contenido exclusivo y sé parte de la comunidad.
Cancela en cualquier momento · Sin permanencia
