Chess Grandmaster Judit Polgár Turns Down Hungarian Presidency

Renowned Hungarian chess player Judit Polgár has declined an offer to become President of Hungary, announcing her decision on Facebook and thanking the country's prime minister for his trust in her.

"I appreciate the prime minister's gesture, but I don't feel I have the strength to take on this historic responsibility and unite a divided nation," Polgár said. The grandmaster added that she would support a new, independent and respected candidate for head of state instead.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar thanked Polgár in response for everything she has done for the country. "Thank you for everything you have done for Hungary! I believe I can speak on behalf of many millions of Hungarians when I say we will continue to count on you — perhaps in a different capacity," he added.

Political analyst Gábor Török described Polgár's refusal as the prime minister's first significant setback. "The plan was in place, the prime minister approved it, the Tisza party faction backed it unanimously — and yet it all vanished like smoke," the analyst noted. He did, however, credit Magyar with successfully removing former President Tamás Sulyok, whom the prime minister had repeatedly branded "a puppet of the Orbán regime."

Following constitutional amendments, Sulyok left the presidency ahead of schedule, and the country is now searching for his successor. Parliamentary Speaker Ágnes Vámos-Forgách of the Tisza party is currently serving as acting head of state.

In Hungary, the president is elected by parliament, where the Tisza party holds a constitutional majority — 141 of the country's 199 seats.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz