Key facts
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar plans to nominate chess champion Judit Polgár for president.
- The presidency is a largely ceremonial role, serving until a new constitution is adopted.
- Polgár is widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history.
- Magyar will formally ask Polgár to accept the nomination on Monday.
- Current President Tamás Sulyok's term is ending following the signing of a constitutional amendment.
- Ágnes Forsthoffer, Speaker of the National Assembly, will serve as interim president.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced plans to ask chess grandmaster Judit Polgár to serve as the nation's next president. Magyar stated he would meet with Polgár on Monday to formally extend the nomination for the largely ceremonial role, which would last until a new constitution is adopted.
Polgár is celebrated as the most successful female chess player in history, having led the women's world rankings for 26 consecutive years and achieving a career-best eighth place on the overall world list. She is also a two-time Women's Chess Olympiad champion. The prime minister highlighted her talent, perseverance, and integrity as qualities that would make her a unifying figure.
This proposal follows President Tamás Sulyok's announcement that he would sign the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law, ending his mandate. The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ágnes Forsthoffer, will temporarily hold the office for one month. Earlier, sixteen prominent figures from Hungarian science, culture, and sport had written a letter proposing Polgár for the presidency. Meanwhile, the Ügyvédkör lawyers’ group announced its candidate for president is Péter Bárándy.