The Hungarian parliament elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the country’s first female president.
Katalin Novak on March 10 won 137 votes from MPs, while her opponent, economist Peter Rona, received 51 votes. Ms. Novak described the election results as a victory for women. At 44 years old, she will be the youngest head of state in Hungarian history.
Ms. Novak is expected to start her five-year term from May 10. As president, she has the power to temporarily block legislation and call referendums.
Born in Szeged, Hungary’s third largest city, Ms. Novak graduated in economics and law, having lived for seven years in Germany, where her husband works. After serving in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years, she became an MP in 2018 and later held the position of Hungarian family affairs Minister.
She is a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in office since 2010 and has conservative, populist policies. His party holds a majority in the Hungarian parliament.
In an interview last December, Ms. Novak denied that she would be a “tool” to expand Orban’s power.
