Kegyelmi

Kegyelmi is a Hungarian adjective related to kegyelem, meaning mercy or clemency. In linguistic and administrative usage, kegyelmi describes things connected with clemency, such as measures, procedures, or requests. The noun form kegyelem provides the base concept of mercy, while kegyelmi is used to modify terms in legal and official language, for example kegyelmi eljárás (clemency procedure) or kegyelmi kérelmet (petition for clemency).

In legal contexts, clemency refers to discretionary mercy granted by an authority to refrain from punishment or to lessen its severity. In Hungary, the concept is used to describe acts that can mitigate or suspend penalties, grant pardons, or otherwise relieve a convicted person from full enforcement of punishment. The exact scope and procedure are defined by constitutional provisions and statutory rules, and the authority to exercise clemency is typically exercised by a designated state office or the head of state, subject to legal requirements. A clemency process commonly involves a formal petition, background review, and consideration of factors such as the nature of the offense, time served, conduct, health, or humanitarian circumstances.

Historically, kegyelmi measures have appeared in various Hungarian governing periods, including monarchy, empire, and republic, serving as a tool to show mercy, resolve injustices, or address extraordinary situations. Today, the term remains part of the formal vocabulary for discussing mercy and leniency within the criminal justice framework, as well as in broader political and administrative discourse.