Hungarian President Katalin Novak has pardoned several convicted right-wing extremist terrorists on the occasion of Pope Francis’ visit. “The week of the Pope’s visit gives the head of state a special opportunity to exercise her right of amnesty,” the presidential chancellery said in Budapest on Thursday evening.
The amnesty applies to right-wing terrorist György Budahazy, who was sentenced to six years in prison by an appeals court in Budapest in March this year, and nine other members of his right-wing extremist organization Hunnia. Between 2007 and 2009, the gang carried out numerous arson and bomb attacks on the homes of left-wing and liberal politicians, planned an assassination attempt and beat up a television producer, seriously injuring the latter.
The lawsuits dragged on for more than a decade. Budahazy is considered an icon of the extreme right, but also enjoys sympathy among supporters of the ruling Fidesz party, which also includes Novak. After the amnesty decree, he was allowed to leave the prison in Vác, north of Budapest, in the night from Thursday to Friday.
He had a horse brought to ride off shouting “Freedom”, Hungarian media reported. In addition, Budahazy announced that he would attend Pope Francis’ mass in Budapest on Sunday to offer a prayer of thanks for the pope, he told tabloid Blikk.
Pope Francis began a three-day visit to the Hungarian capital on Friday. The highlight will be a mass he will preside on Sunday morning in the square in front of the parliament.
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