Hungary elects Katalin Novak, first-ever female president

Katalin Novak, an in depth ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, portrays her election as a victory for girls.

Newly elected Hungarian President Katalin Novak takes an oath throughout her inauguration ceremony on the plenary session of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest [Zoltan Mathe/EPA]

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 lately served as a minister for household coverage, portrayed her election on Thursday as a victory for girls.

She was elected to the largely ceremonial function by 137 votes to 51 within the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz celebration forward of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist.

“We girls 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 stated in a speech earlier than the vote.

Novak, centre, takes an oath throughout her inauguration ceremony on the plenary session of the Hungarian parliament in Budapest [Szilard Koszticsak/EPA]

“We all know the ability of phrases however can maintain quiet and hear if now we have to, and defend our households with a braveness past that of males’s if hazard threatens,” stated the 44-year-old, Hungary’s youngest-ever head of state.

“It's as a result of I'm a girl, and never regardless of of it, that I wish to be a great president of Hungary,” she stated.

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 celebration who has held the job since 2012. She's going to take workplace after Ader’s time period expires Might 10.