ANOTHER LEADER BITES THE DUST!!

[sweet pea]

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary'sPresident Pal Schmitt resigned on Monday after a plagiarism scandal,eliminating a potential distraction to his allies in the government as they tryto win funding from international lenders.

An opposition party had consideredtrying to impeach him as he could only be removed from the largely ceremonialpost by a two thirds majority in parliament, which the ruling Fidesz partyholds. Hundreds of protesters had also called for him to quit.

Analysts had said the row could havebecome increasingly unpleasant for the government as it tries to resolve alengthy dispute with the European Union that has held up funding from the blocfor central Europe's most indebted country.

The two-time Olympic goldmedal-winning fencer had an instrumental role in pushing the agenda of PrimeMinister Viktor Orban's government, signing controversial reforms, such asretroactive taxes, into law.

After saying last week he would notquit after a university panel stripped him of his sports doctorate, Schmittannounced he would resign on Monday, becoming the first president in Hungary'spost-communist history to quit the post.

"When my personal issue dividesmy beloved nation rather than unites it, it is my duty to end my service andresign my mandate as president," Schmitt told parliament.

Lawmakers later voted overwhelminglyto rubber-stamp his departure less than two years into his term.

Schmitt was stripped of his sportsdoctorate after the university found he had copied chunks of his thesis withoutproper acknowledgement, a charge he denies.

"He should have made thisdecision long ago," Adam Ver a 32-year-old academic said, walking outsidethe parliament building. "It looks like this is not a country withoutconsequences after all, so I can only welcome the decision."

SUCCESSOR

The resignation poses no risk to thegovernment and parliament has 30 days to find a successor. Speaker Laszlo Koverwill serve as interim president.

Peter Kreko, an analyst at thinktank Political Capital, said Schmitt's successor would likely act in hisfootsteps and support the Orban government's policies.

"The person holding the officewill change, but it will not trigger any change in the operation of thesystem," he said.

Despite his everyman charm, Schmittcould not connect with voters, many of whom derided what they saw as his lackof autonomy in signing bitterly contested reforms into law, in line with hisinaugural pledge to be the "engine" of Orban's agenda.

Schmitt presided over the passage ofa new constitution and about 300 new laws, some of which sparked a dispute withHungary's international partners and the EU, hampering its bid for vitalfinancial aid to avert a market crisis.

Budapest's Semmelweis Universityrevoked Schmitt's doctorate last week, after its inquiry found his 1992 thesis,"An analysis of the program of Modern Olympic Games", had not metscientific and ethical standards.

The university's decision wentfurther than suggested by the findings of its investigative committee, whichsaid while Schmitt's 215-page thesis contained "unusually large amounts ofverbatim translation", it met the formal standards of the time.

Schmitt, a former Fidesz party vicepresident, said he would appeal the ruling on the grounds that the universityhad no jurisdiction in the matter and only a court could revoke his doctorate.

"The process was unethical andunlawful," Schmitt told parliament.

"Naturally, I will appeal thisdecision and I will seek justice through the courts. For some, this is apolitical question. To me, it's a matter of honor."

http://news.yahoo.com/scandal-hit-hungary-president-address-parliament-104538564.html

[mrwhitewolf69]

It does not matter what Country you are from

we the humans are tired of the BS leaders; they put in charge

[azgoldengirl]

leaders.......a term to be used lightly~