Hungary: Orban To Address Child-Abuse Scandal After Protests

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set to address a child sexual abuse scandal that has shocked the nation.

Mass protests were sparked after it was revealed that a former official, convicted of covering up sexual crimes at a state-run children’s home, had been granted clemency.

Thousands packed the historic Heroes’ Square in Budapest on Friday, in solidarity with abuse victims.

There have been several resignations over the controversial pardon.

President Katalin Novak, who granted the pardon, and two senior figures in Mr Orban’s ruling Fidesz party stepped down last week
The scandal has become the biggest threat to Mr Orban’s conservative rule since he returned to power in 2010.

His government has made family values a core theme of its policies, so for the past week it has been thrown on the defensive.

The prime minister will deliver his annual state of the nation address later on Saturday, where he is expected to reassure his supporters he is back in charge, that his government has done more to protect children than any other, and that when his officials make mistakes – they resign.

Friday’s protests saw tens of thousands of people stream into Heroes’ Square for the demonstration entitled “there are monsters out there”.

Political parties were asked to stay away: this was a show of force by mostly young Hungarians in protest against the abuse and neglect of children and for social solidarity.

Www.bbcnews.co.uk/world