Katalin Novák facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Katalin Novák
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Novák in 2023
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| 6th President of Hungary | |
| In office 10 May 2022 – 26 February 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Viktor Orbán |
| Preceded by | János Áder |
| Succeeded by | Tamás Sulyok |
| Minister for Family Affairs | |
| In office 1 October 2020 – 31 December 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Viktor Orbán |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 8 May 2018 – 1 May 2022 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Katalin Éva Novák
6 September 1977 Szeged, Hungary |
| Political party | Fidesz |
| Spouse | István Veres |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Corvinus University of Budapest (MSc) University of Szeged (JD) |
Katalin Éva Veresné Novák (Hungarian: [ˈkɒtɒlin ˈnovaːk], born 6 September 1977) is a Hungarian politician who served as president of Hungary from 2022 to 2024. Elected at the age of 44, she was the first woman and youngest person ever to hold the post. Prior to her presidency, she had been a member of the National Assembly for Fidesz from 2018 to 2022, during which time she had also served as Minister for Family Affairs in the fourth Orbán government, from 2020 to 2021.
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Education
After completing her secondary education at the Ságvári Endre Secondary School at Szeged in 1996, Novák studied economics at the Corvinus University of Budapest and law at the University of Szeged. While a student, she additionally studied abroad at the Paris Nanterre University. In addition to Hungarian, Novák speaks French, English, German, and Spanish.
Political career
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Novák began working at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001, specializing in European Union and European matters. In 2010, she became a ministerial advisor. and was appointed Head of Cabinet of the Ministry of Human Resources in 2012.
In 2014 she became State Secretary for Family and Youth Affairs at the Ministry of Human Capacities, eventually becoming Minister of Family Affairs in October 2020. She held this position until December 2021.
She served as Vice President of Fidesz between 2017 and 2021.
On 21 December 2021, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that Novák would be Fidesz's nominee in the 2022 presidential election. On 10 March 2022, she won gaining 137 out of 188 votes in the National Assembly. Novák is the first woman to hold the office of president in its history.
Presidency
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In April 2023, the National Assembly passed a bill enabling and encouraging citizens to report same-sex couples who raise children to the state authorities, such as police and child protection. Novák vetoed the bill, and formally prevented it from becoming enacted into law. In May 2022, she condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In the context of the 2023 Israel-Gaza war, she condemned Hamas' attack on Israel and expressed her support for the latter's right to self-defence. On 5 November 2023, Novák visited Israel to express solidarity with the country.
Resignation
Balog resigned from the synodal presidency of the Hungarian Reformed Church on 16 February 2024.
The National Assembly formally accepted, and thus made Novák's resignation effective, on 26 February 2024. She was succeeded in an acting capacity by speaker of the National Assembly László Kövér. She was the second head of state to resign in Hungary's post-communist history.
Personal life
Novák is married and has three children. Her husband is economist István Veres, director of the Financial Market and Foreign Exchange Market Directorate at the Hungarian National Bank (MNB). She is a Reformed Christian.
Novák is firmly committed to opposing what she calls "gender ideology". She supported a constitutional reform in 2020 to strengthen the ban on adoption by same-sex couples by stating that "the mother is a woman, the father is a man". The amendments also stipulate that single people will only be able to adopt with the express authorization of the minister, to prevent homosexuals from circumventing the ban. In a video published in 2020, she argues that "women must not always compete with men", or "constantly compare themselves with men by having a similar position and salary to them".
Honours and awards
Domestic
Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen (2022)
According to the Constitution of Hungary's CCII/2011 law the president of Hungary receives the Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen ex-officio.
Grand Cross with Chain of the Hungarian Order of Merit (2022)
According to the Constitution of Hungary's CCII/2011 law the president of Hungary receives the Grand Cross with Chain of the Hungarian Order of Merit ex-officio.
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Foreign
France: Knight (Chevalier) of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (2019)
Poland: Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2019)
Portugal: Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (2023)
Dynastic
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I (2023)
