Hungary's president resigns over child sexual abuse scandal

Outrage was sparked by revelations Hungary's president had pardoned a man convicted in a child sexual abuse cause.

Transcript

00:00 Hungary`s President Katalin Novak announced her resignation on Saturday after coming under

00:04 mounting pressure for pardoning a man convicted for covering up a sex abuse case in a children`s

00:10 home.

00:11 "I made a mistake.

00:12 Today is the last day that I address you as a president," Novak said in a speech broadcast

00:16 on state television.

00:18 On April 27 last year, ahead of Pope Francis` visit to Hungary, Novak pardoned the former

00:23 deputy director of a children`s home.

00:26 The man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for helping to cover up the sexual

00:30 abuse committed by the institution`s director, who himself was sentenced to eight years for

00:35 his abuse of at least 10 children.

00:37 On the same day, the Hungarian president pardoned 22 other cases.

00:42 Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced on Thursday that he had proposed to amend Hungary`s constitution

00:47 that would prevent those convicted of crimes against children from receiving presidential

00:51 pardons.

00:53 Over a thousand people protested in Budapest on Friday, demanding Novak`s resignation.

00:57 (whooshing)