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Hungarian PM proposes chess champion Judit Polgár for president

From Der Standard · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has proposed world-class chess master Judit Polgár as the next president.
  • Polgár, who has no prior political experience, was put forward after the previous president, Tamás Sulyok, was removed.
  • The parliament must now elect a new head of state within 30 days through a secret ballot.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has nominated Judit Polgár, the renowned world-class chess player, to become the country's next president. The proposal comes after the effective removal of the previous president, Tamás Sulyok, through a constitutional amendment. The Hungarian parliament now faces the task of electing a new head of state within the next 30 days via a secret ballot.

Polgár, 49, has never before been involved in politics, making her nomination a surprise. Her selection by Magyar, leader of the Tisza Party, has reportedly garnered significant support within the party, despite some unexpected backlash in social media forums. The nomination is seen as a bold move by Magyar, who is positioning himself as a transformative figure in Hungarian politics.

The vacancy for the presidency arose following a constitutional amendment that led to the dismissal of Tamás Sulyok. The specifics of the situation leading to Sulyok's removal are not detailed in the provided text, but it has created an immediate need for a new presidential figurehead. The upcoming parliamentary vote will determine whether Polgár can transition from the chess board to the presidential office.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Der Standard in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.