The Spanish vacation of the disgraced former Hungarian president is causing a stir in Hungary

Friday, May 17, 2024

Former Hungarian president Katalin Novák resurfaces via social media photos from a horse fair in Spain, sparking controversy.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

A photo posted and subsequently deleted on social media has caused controversy in Hungary regarding former Hungarian President Katalin Novák, who had been absent from public life since resigning in February. The photos showed her visiting the Andalusian Royal Equestrian Art School in Jerez, Spain, alongside a defense delegate. Novák’s visit to Spain was notable because it was the first information about her activities since she resigned following a scandal involving a presidential pardon granted for an individual close to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. This pardon related to a case of pedophilia at a local orphanage, which led to significant public pressure and her resignation in February 2022. While Novák has been absent from the Hungarian public sphere, indications suggest the government has not severed ties with her. The nature of her visit—official or private—and the reason for deleting the photos remain unclear, although Spanish authorities confirmed she was invited by the consulate for a routine tour. Despite the scandal, Novák retains certain benefits under Hungarian law.


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