Orbán only found out about the clemency case through the press – Gulyás

Friday's government briefing marks the first time that representatives of the government have appeared before the press since it emerged that on account of last year's papal visit, Katalin Novák had granted a presidential pardon to Endre K., the former deputy director of the Bicske children's home, who the court said helped cover up the director's paedophile case.

Since then, Katalin Novák has resigned as head of state, and former justice minister Judit Varga has announced that she will no longer be leading the Fidesz-KDNP list in the upcoming EP elections, and will retire from public life.

Assessing the political ramifications

According to Gergely Gulyás, this week's cabinet meeting was a good opportunity to assess the political ramifications of the presidential pardon case. He said that over the past 14 years, the Hungarian government has placed great emphasis on the protection of children, and then went on to enumarate the measures that have been taken.

"Katalin Novák has done the most in recent years to support families", and Judit Varga has also played a major role in protecting families through legislation, Gulyás said. The minister said it was therefore understandable that a big portion of society was baffled by the clemency decision. But he said that by resigning, Novák and Varga had behaved in an exemplary manner, and the government must now look towards the future.

How does Gulyás view Novák's and Varga's withdrawal? – was one question asked of the Minister.

"We have taken note of their decisions. As far as the decision on clemency petitions is concerned, I would like to add that in the past 25 years of Hungarian constitutional practice, everyone has countersigned every clemency petition. So Judit Varga only followed standard practice, and there is no doubt that it would have been a good idea to break with that practice in this instance.

Telex's question to Gulyás was: According to the law, the Minister of Justice acts on behalf of the government, and in light of this, isn't it perhaps reasonable to expect the government to provide some sort of information about the clemency application.

"If the data is of public interest, then I suggest you submit an official request, and if not, then I do not wish to provide further information beyond the resignations," Gulyás said. He added that this is the first time he has not answered something he knows the answer to while there have previously been times when he has answered something he didn't know the answer to.

According to Gulyás, the case will be closed once the new head of state has been appointed. Other than that, Novák and Varga have resigned, and thus they consider the scandal part of the case closed.

Appointing a new president

In response to a question from Magyar Nemzet, Gulyás said that parliament will likely make a decision on Viktor Orbán's constitutional amendment during the spring session.

Gulyás hopes that a decision on the new president will be made within two weeks. Parliament is due to accept the resignation of Katalin Novák on 26 February, and the new president must be appointed within 30 days after that.

What about Bishop Balog's responsibility?

The fate of the Prime Minister's friend of many decades, Bishop Zoltán Balog, is still in question. Several sources told Telex that the leader of the Hungaian Reformed Church played an important role in the clemency being granted to Endre K, as he was one of Novák's advisors and an old mentor of hers.

However, earlier this week, Balog announced that he would continue to lead the Hungarian Reformed Church, even though he admitted to his involvement in Novák granting the pardon.

In response to a question from Népszava, Gulyás said that Zoltán Balog did not tell Viktor Orbán about Endre K.'s pardon, the Prime Minister only learned about the case from the press. Gulyás also said that his fate is an internal matter of the Hungarian Reformed Church and added that he has great appreciation and respect for Balog, has confidence in him, and considers him to be an excellent bishop.

Promising negotiations with Sweden

"Promising negotiations" are underway with the Swedish government on the country's accession to NATO, he said in response to a question on the issue.