Katalin Novák has tendered a written statement of her resignation to parliament.
Under the law, the president can resign by submitting a written statement, while the resignation requires parliament’s approval to be complete. Parliament is allowed 15 days to request the president to reconsider her decision. If the president maintains her decision, parliament cannot deny its approval. The mandate of the president expires 15 days after the signing of the resignation statement, or on the day parliament approves the resignation. Under the constitution, parliament shall elect a successor within 30 days of the expiry of the previous president’s mandate. Novák announced her resignation on Saturday, in connection with her decision to grant clemency to a person convicted of helping to cover up child abuse. Former justice minister Judit Varga, who countersigned the pardon, resigned from all her positions and said she would retire from public life a few hours later. Máté Kocsis, the Fidesz parliamentary group leader, said their decisions showed that “on the right, mistakes have consequences.” He said that Novák’s resignation had been “a straightforward decision”.