Katalin Novak, an in depth ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, portrays her election as a victory for ladies.
The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, an in depth ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, because the EU member’s first-ever feminine president.
Novak, who most just lately served as a minister for household coverage, portrayed her election on Thursday as a victory for ladies.
She was elected to the principally ceremonial function by 137 votes to 51 within the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz get together forward of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist.
“We ladies rear youngsters, take care of the in poor health, cook dinner, are in two locations on the similar time if wants be, earn cash, educate, win Nobel prizes, clear home windows,” Novak mentioned in a speech earlier than the vote.
“We all know the ability of phrases however can hold quiet and pay attention if we have now to, and defend our households with a braveness past that of males’s if hazard threatens,” mentioned the 44-year-old, Hungary’s youngest-ever head of state.
“It’s as a result of I’m a lady, and never regardless of of it, that I need to be an excellent president of Hungary,” she mentioned.
Earlier, she posted a photograph of herself, her husband and her three youngsters on social media, saying it “means rather a lot to me that my household is right here with me”.
Novak has been the face of presidency insurance policies together with beneficiant tax breaks and handouts designed to encourage younger households to have extra youngsters.
Upcoming vote
Thursday’s vote comes weeks forward of a crunch parliamentary election on April 3, the place Orban faces a stiff battle to win a fourth straight time period in energy since 2010.
Peter Marki-Zay, who leads a six-party opposition hoping to unseat Orban subsequent month, accused Novak of being “unfit” for the presidential place job because of her partisan background.
Novak will succeed Janos Ader, a co-founder of Orban’s governing right-wing Fidesz get together who has held the job since 2012. She’s going to take workplace after Ader’s time period expires Could 10.