As of today, May 10, Katalin Novák is officially President of Hungary. Only 44 years old, married, and with three children, the former head of the Political Network for Values, is now the first woman to occupy this position and the first woman to lead the country since 1780, when the rule of Queen Maria Theresa came to an end.
She was elected on the 10th of March by the Parliament to replace Janos Ader, with 137 votes of the 188 votes; and in her new function she will be for five years head of state and commander of the Armed Forces; she will be able to veto laws she considers harmful to the country and send them to the Constitutional Court for review.
Novák was vice-president of the Fidesz party, Minister of Family in Viktor Orbán’s government and responsible for implementing a series of public policies, with a subsidiary and non-assistance approach, which have reshaped the country’s social panorama.
Thanks to a decade of work, Hungary today is experiencing significant demographic growth, an increase in marriages and in the average number of children per family, less divorces and abortions, effective mechanisms for the integration of grandparents, and protection for women and families in vulnerable situations. In addition to special attention to the housing problem of Hungarian families.
Novak is convinced that the regeneration of society depends on the strengthening of the family nucleus. In her first speech before the parliament she asked for God’s help and promised “to be a good head of state who defends the family as the basis of sovereignty”.
And referring to the novelty of being the first woman elected as President, on that occasion, he said: “we women, raise children, tend to the sick, cook and work for two if necessary, earn money, teach, receive Nobel prizes, and clean windows. We know the power of words but are able to remain in the background and remain silent when it comes to that. And we protect our families when they are threatened, even more fiercely than men. I wish to be a good President of Hungary not despite, but rather because of, being a woman”.