DistantNews
Support us
Hungary's PM to Ask Chess Legend Judit Polgár to Be Next President

Hungary's PM to Ask Chess Legend Judit Polgár to Be Next President

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar plans to ask Judit Polgár, widely considered the greatest female chess player ever, to become Hungary's next president.
  • Magyar will meet Polgár to discuss the potential role, which he described as serving the country until a new constitution is adopted.
  • The presidency in Hungary holds primarily symbolic significance.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has announced his intention to approach Judit Polgár, renowned as the greatest female chess player in history, with an offer to become Hungary's next president. Magyar revealed his plan on Facebook, stating he would meet with Polgár to inquire about her willingness to serve the nation in this capacity. He indicated the role would be a temporary one, lasting until a new constitution is ratified. Polgár, whose name has long been synonymous with talent and perseverance in chess, has achieved legendary status in the sport. She was part of the Hungarian women's team that won the Chess Olympiad in 1988 and later competed successfully against male players, breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. The Netflix series "Queen of Chess" recently highlighted her remarkable career. Magyar's proposal comes shortly after the resignation of former President Tamas Sulyok, following a constitutional amendment passed by Magyar's Tisza party. Magyar's party secured a significant majority in the April elections, ousting Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power. The role of the Hungarian president is largely ceremonial, with executive power residing with the prime minister and government. Polgár has not yet responded to requests for comment.

I will meet her tomorrow, and I will ask her if she is ready to serve our country in a new role until the new constitution is voted through.

— Péter MagyarHungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar explaining his intention to ask Judit Polgár to consider the presidency.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.