Hungarian parliament elects nation's new president

BELGRADE, Serbia

Hungary's parliament on Monday elected Tamas Sulyok the country's new president.

Constitutional Court head Sulyok took his oath of office after a majority of lawmakers approved him succeeding Katalin Novak, who stepped down amid controversy.

Novak resigned because of her controversial decision last April to pardon Endre K., who was convicted of covering up crimes committed by a sexual predator.

In 2018 Endre K. was sentenced to more than three years in prison for pressuring victims to retract their claims of sexual abuse in a state-run children's home.

The director of the home was sentenced to eight years for abusing at least 10 children between 2004 and 2016.

Novak had pardoned two dozen people ahead of Pope Francis' visit to Hungary last April.

Former Justice Minister Judit Varga – who countersigned the presidential pardon – also resigned as an MP and the chair of parliament’s European Affairs Committee.

Novak was elected Hungary’s first-ever female president in May 2022.