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Judit Varga (politician)

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Judit Varga
Varga in 2020
Minister of Justice
In office
12 July 2019 – 31 July 2023
Prime MinisterViktor Orbán
Preceded byLászló Trócsányi
Succeeded byBence Tuzson
Member of the National Assembly
In office
2 May 2022 – 16 February 2024
Minister of State for European Union Relations
In office
22 May 2018 – 11 July 2019
Personal details
Born (1980-09-10) 10 September 1980 (age 44)
Miskolc, Hungary
Political partyFidesz
Spouse
(m. 2006; div. 2023)
Children3
Alma materNürtingen-Geislingen University of Applied Science University of Miskolc
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • Politician

Judit Varga (pronunciation: [ˈjudit ˈvɒrɡɒ], born 10 September 1980)[1] is a Hungarian lawyer and retired politician. She served as Minister of Justice from her appointment in July 2019[2] until her resignation in June 2023.[3] In 2022, she was elected to the National Assembly.[4]

Early life, education, and early career

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Varga was born on 10 September 1980 in Miskolc, Hungary. In 2003, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miskolc with a judicial degree.[1] She passed the Hungarian bar exam in 2009.[1] From 2009 to 2018, Varga worked as a policy advisor to Members of the European Parliament from Hungary, including Erik Bánki and György Hölvényi.[1] Varga served as Minister of State for European Union Relations in the Prime Minister's Office from June 2018 until her appointment as Minister of Justice.[1]

Minister of Justice

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Prime Minister Viktor Orbán appointed Varga to the office of Minister of Justice on 12 July 2019.[2] In 2021, she filed a case in the Court of Justice of the European Union challenging the legality of a mechanism that would allow the European Commission to deny member states financial aid they would otherwise be entitled to receive for alleged rule-of-law violations.[5]

National Assembly

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Varga served on the Committee on European Affairs, which she chaired.[4]

On 2 February 2024, it became known to the public that in April 2023, Katalin Novák, the president of Hungary, had pardoned Endre Kónya, the deputy director of an orphanage in Bicske who had tried to cover up child molestation at the institution.[6] Varga, who was Minister of Justice at the time, had—as constitutionally mandated—countersigned the presidential pardon. The pardon's revelation created a scandal, and, as a result, Novák and Varga both resigned on 10 February. Varga had been considered to lead the Fidesz list in the 2024 European Parliament election.[7]

Personal life

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Varga was married to Péter Magyar, a lawyer. They have three children.[1] The couple divorced in March 2023.[8]

She speaks Hungarian, English, German, French, and Spanish.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). Europass CV. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "PM Orbán wishes "striker" Justice Minister luck in her new role". About Hungary. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  3. ^ Bráder, Ádám (28 June 2023). "Justice Minister Judit Varga Resigns From Her Post". Hungarian Conservative.
  4. ^ a b "Dr. Varga, Judit (Fidesz)". Hungarian Parliament.
  5. ^ Bayer, Lili (11 March 2021). "Hungary and Poland to Brussels: See you in court". POLITICO. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. ^ Thorpe, Nick (10 February 2024). "Hungarian President Katalin Novak resigns over child abuse pardon scandal". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Katalin Novák has resigned". Telex. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  8. ^ Joób, Sándor (7 March 2023). "Válik Varga Judit igazságügyi miniszter". Telex (in Hungarian). Retrieved 10 February 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Justice
2019–2023
Succeeded by