Judit Varga, who was expected to lead the ruling Fidesz party’s slate in the European Parliament election, also resigned.

Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigned on Saturday after coming under growing pressure as a result of her controversial decision to pardon a man implicated in a sex-abuse scandal last year.

Novak, a close ally and former family minister of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, cut short a trip to Qatar and flew back to Budapest to make the announcement following protests in the Hungarian capital.

“I issued a pardon that caused bewilderment and unrest for many people. I made a mistake,” Novak said in a televised address Saturday, announcing that she would be stepping down from the ceremonial position as head of state.