Hungarian President, Katalin Novak has resigned after controversies trailed her decision to pardon a man convicted of helping to cover up sexual abuse in a children's home.
Novak resigned a week after her presidential pardon was first reported by local news site 444.hu.
The revelation of the pardon expectedly generated a public uproar, with the opposition demanding the resignation of her and former Justice Minister Judit Varga.
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Varga, a rising star in Orban's ruling Fidesz party, also resigned as a lawmaker on Saturday.
"I made a mistake ... Today is the last day that I address you as a president," Novak, whose role as president is largely ceremonial, said as she announced her resignation on state television.
Novak also cut short her official visit to Qatar and returned to Budapest unexpectedly on Saturday.
"I made a decision to grant a pardon last April believing that the convict did not abuse the vulnerability of children whom he had overseen. I made a mistake as the pardon and the lack of reasoning was suitable to trigger doubts over the zero tolerance that applies to paedophilia," she said.
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