“Nobody except him can decide,” said Mr Orban, in his only comment
on the plagiarism scandal. But as an indication that the president no longer
enjoyed the support of the government and the ruling Fidesz party an unnamed
cabinet minister quoted by the newspaper Nepszabadsag said that “Schmitt
ought to have resigned much earlier” and that the moment of him walking
away with dignity had passed.
The Hungarian presidency is a largely ceremonial role.
The 69-year-old president, who went to a sport university, denies
cheating, claiming to have used 21 sources and “the best of his own learning”.
The plagiarism scandal has drawn parallels with that which brought
an end to the political career of Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
The high-flying German politician resigned in disgrace from his job as defence
minister following revelations that he had plagiarised his doctorate thesis.