University decision Pál Schmitt academic misconduct controversy

1 university decision

1.1 reactions

1.1.1 pál schmitt
1.1.2 government parties
1.1.3 batthyány society of professors
1.1.4 hungarian accreditation committee


1.2 rector s resignation
1.3 resignation

university decision

the rector of semmelweis university forwarded fact-finding committee s report minister of national resources miklós réthelyi on march 27, 2012. university of opinion ministry had authority initiate revocation of dr. univ. title (citing legal article on degrees awarded defunct institutions of higher education). minister returned report following day, citing lack of jurisdiction.

tivadar tulassay, rector of semmelweis university announced on march 29 semmelweis university council launch proceedings in order withdraw schmitt s doctorate title.

the same day university senate voted 33-4 withdraw schmitt s doctorate title.

reactions
pál schmitt

schmitt canceled appointments 30 march , norbert kiss, public relations manager of office of president announced @ 8 pm schmitt going answer questions in tv interview.

on 30 march 9 pm m1 aired 15-minute, pre-recorded, heavily orchestrated interview in schmitt announced not resign office, there no connection between role president , doctorate. said had acted in faith regarding dissertation, , had been led believe thesis committee conduct had been correct, repeating majority conclusion of semmelweis university fact-finding committee. said intended write new dissertation , acquire ph.d. degree.

government parties

on 29 march botond szalma, president of kdnp s budapest group issued statement in hailed decision of university council , asked apology or resignation of politicians working on ways cover scandal instead of bringing truth light. added: sin must called sin, black must called black, , white must called white, christian morality dictates .

on 31 march, after schmitt announced not considering resignation, kdnp issued press release distancing party szalma s statements, saying: christian democratic people s party stress statements of president of budapest group in recent days not reflect views of party whole, , statements made openly go against official stance of kdnp .

batthyány society of professors

soon after controversy erupted, rezső lovas, president of batthyány society of professors (pbk), pro-government group of university lecturers said in opinion unlikely allegations can proven valid.

on 29 march, after semmelweis university council decided initiate revocation of schmitt s doctorate, society issued press release saying doctoral council has drawn conclusions on matter part. hope president same. further state @ time when suffering double standard used against our homeland, of utmost importance have 1 standard in our country, , standard should applied everyone. in current difficult situation country in, there need president respected both @ home , abroad.

the batthyány society of professors came under criticism because of handling of case of schmitt s plagiarism. because of support given schmitt , lack of appropriate response article on «hirszerzo.hu» termed right-wing, christian groups of academics , intelligentsia (such pbk, hungarian association civic cooperation , society of christian intellectuals) schmittpali society of professors . 31 march essay on heti világgazdaság called society professors abusing name of batthyány .

hungarian accreditation committee

on 2 april president of hungarian accreditation committee announced decision of university senate legitimate according relevant regulations.

rector s resignation

on 1 april tivadar tulassay resigned rector of semmelweis university. had served rector 9 years , term have ended on 1 july. reason immediate resignation, cited fundamental loss of trust perceived on part of minister of national resources, miklós réthelyi, , state secretary education, rózsa hoffmann, during decision-making process. stated stands behind decision made university senate, on ethical, professional , legal grounds.

resignation

according poll conducted medián , published on 18 january, 6% of fidesz voters expressed opinion schmitt should resign. 77% of mszp, lmp , dk, 28% of jobbik supporters , 30% of independent voters thought should not remain in office. taking whole sample consideration, 33% of population thought schmitt should resign, while 42% thought should remain in office, remaining 25% expressed no opinion.

on 2 april, hungarian parliament received schmitt s resignation office of president.

on 15 may 2013, schmitt formally resigned doctorate after academic remedy commission declared thesis did not meet criteria, either in terms of content or formal requirements.