50,000 Hungarians Outraged Over Presidential Pardon For Pedophile

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Tens of thousands of Hungarians expressed outrage on Friday over a presidential pardon for an official sentenced in a pedophilia case that has left longtime Prime Minister Viktor Orbán fighting for his political life.

Up to 50,000 Hungarians filled Budapest’s landmark Heroes’ Square to support the victims of abuse and to call for reforms in the country’s neglected childcare system. Armed with what appeared to be a smoke bomb, protesters later marched to the nearby headquarters of the ruling Fidesz party.

Friday’s protest was organized by a group of famous music stars, video site YouTube performers, and other celebrities unaffiliated with opposition parties.

“I am furious,” a 20-year-old student told Worthy News after she symbolically was boxing against the picture of a government official. “We have to protect the children,” added the young woman who only wishes to identify herself as Virág, the Hungarian word for flower.

The crisis, which started in early February and led to the resignation of Hungary’s first female president, Katalin Novák, challenged the ruling party’s Christian conservative focus on family and children.

However, Orbán has proposed to change the constitution to ban presidential pardons for those involved in sexually abusing children. He was expected to address the issue during his 25th annual state-of-the-nation speech on Saturday.

Protesters doubted Orbán’s sincerity, with many moving to the nearby headquarters of the ruling Fidesz party to demand his resignation. Armed with a smoke bomb, some were seen pushing police, though no serious fighting broke out, Worthy News witnessed.

POPE PARDON

They expressed anger that Endre K., who got the pardon around Pope Francis’ visit to Hungary in April last year, would potentially be able to work with children again.

K. had been convicted of hiding sex abuses of children by the director at a state-run children’s home in Bicske, near Budapest. The pardoned man, who was deputy director at the same institution, even pressured victims to withdraw their testimonies, according to court documents.

Novák, a mother of three, apologized for giving him the pardon and resigned along with former Justice Minister Judit Várga, who countersigned the pardon.

There was also mounting pressure on the Hungarian Reformed Bishop Zoltán Balog to step down. Balog, a former government minister, had advised Hungary’s president to issue a pardon. Late Friday, Balog announced his resignation as the Reformed Synode’s president, but he still remained bishop.

Several protesters suggested that other government officials, including Orbán, should also step down over their role in the scandal and other care grievances. Friday’s rally attracted a large crowd by enlisting artists such as Attila Bauko, known by his stage name Azahriah, whose concerts filled stadiums several times.

“None of us who have given our name to this event will benefit personally from it; that’s why I think it’s worth taking part and using the limelight that’s on me,” Bauko said in a video message broadcast at the protest.

He and others hope for significant changes in the underfunded and outdated childcare facilities and hospitals, saying many homeless had faced abuse. “We want to achieve change, which is possible through unity,” Bauko stressed. During the rally, some 27 million forints ($75,000) was raised to help house a young homeless person who had been abused as a child, organizers said.

Yet Hungary urgently needs a new president, and parliament was due to vote for a new head of state by the end of the month.

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