Schmitt resigns as Hungary's president amid plagiarism row
Source: Agencies |
April 3, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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HUNGARIAN President Pal Schmitt resigned yesterday because of a plagiarism scandal regarding a doctoral dissertation he had written 20 years ago.
Schmitt, who was elected to his largely ceremonial office in 2010 for a five-year term, said in a speech to Parliament that he is stepping down because the controversy is dividing Hungary.
"In this situation, when my personal issue divides my beloved nation instead of uniting it, I feel it to be my personal duty to finish my service and resign from my presidential mandate," Schmitt said, drawing applause and cheers from opposition lawmakers. "I ask God's blessing for Hungary and for your work."
Schmitt, 69, then quickly left the chamber accompanied by Prime Minister Viktor Orban as lawmakers from the governing parties - Orban's Fidesz and the Christian Democrats - gave him a standing ovation.
The resignation comes at a turbulent time in Hungarian politics. The European Union, which Hungary joined in 2004, has criticized legislation Orban's party passed for limiting democratic principles such as freedom of the press and an independent judiciary and central bank.
Schmitt had been elected president with support of the Fidesz party.
Late in 2011, Hungary turned to the EU and the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance as its currency fell to all-time lows against the euro. However, talks with the lenders have yet to start because the EU and the IMF have demanded changes to the some of the disputed legislation, especially the central bank law, a precondition for talks.
Last week, Schmitt's 1992 doctorate was revoked after a university committee, following up on a report published in January by the Internet publication HVG.hu, found that most of his thesis about the modern Olympic Games had been copied from the work of two other authors. Schmitt had won two gold metals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics on his country's fencing teams.
After the speech, Orban asked for a parliamentary recess so his party could arrange legislative votes needed to accept the resignation and choose a new president as soon as possible.
Schmitt, who was elected to his largely ceremonial office in 2010 for a five-year term, said in a speech to Parliament that he is stepping down because the controversy is dividing Hungary.
"In this situation, when my personal issue divides my beloved nation instead of uniting it, I feel it to be my personal duty to finish my service and resign from my presidential mandate," Schmitt said, drawing applause and cheers from opposition lawmakers. "I ask God's blessing for Hungary and for your work."
Schmitt, 69, then quickly left the chamber accompanied by Prime Minister Viktor Orban as lawmakers from the governing parties - Orban's Fidesz and the Christian Democrats - gave him a standing ovation.
The resignation comes at a turbulent time in Hungarian politics. The European Union, which Hungary joined in 2004, has criticized legislation Orban's party passed for limiting democratic principles such as freedom of the press and an independent judiciary and central bank.
Schmitt had been elected president with support of the Fidesz party.
Late in 2011, Hungary turned to the EU and the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance as its currency fell to all-time lows against the euro. However, talks with the lenders have yet to start because the EU and the IMF have demanded changes to the some of the disputed legislation, especially the central bank law, a precondition for talks.
Last week, Schmitt's 1992 doctorate was revoked after a university committee, following up on a report published in January by the Internet publication HVG.hu, found that most of his thesis about the modern Olympic Games had been copied from the work of two other authors. Schmitt had won two gold metals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics on his country's fencing teams.
After the speech, Orban asked for a parliamentary recess so his party could arrange legislative votes needed to accept the resignation and choose a new president as soon as possible.
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