Hungarian President Pal Schmitt resigns due to plagiarism scandal

Hungarian President Pal Schmitt has resigned after losing his doctoral title after the special commission had recognized earlier that he plagiarized his doctoral dissertation, international media report.
Schmitt, an ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, bowed to pressure to quit after Semmelweis University in Budapest stripped him of his doctoral title in sports last week. Schmitt initially refused to resign claiming that his doctorate and the presidency were not to be connected.
"Hungary's basic law, which I signed, says the head of state is the symbol of national unity," Schmitt told lawmakers today. "This to me means that in this situation, when my personal case divides rather than unites my beloved nation, I feel it is my duty to end my service and return my presidential mandate," – San Francisco Chronicle quotes his words.
Schmitt is an Olympic champion fencer and long-time International Olympic Committee member.