Jewish chess legend Judit Polgar rejects offer to become Hungary’s president

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar's bid to break from the Viktor Orbán era has suffered a setback as chess grandmaster Judit Polgár declined his offer to become Hungary's next president.

Magyar, a pro-European conservative, had nominated Polgár, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history, as an outsider figure to champion his promise of "regime change" after Orbán's 16-year tenure. Polgár, who will turn 50 this week, is a respected figure in Hungary, born into a Jewish family and known for her exceptional chess career, including being the top-ranked woman for 25 years before retiring in 2014.

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I do not feel I have the strength to take on the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation, and so I am unable to accept the invitation.

In a social media post, Polgár stated, "I do not feel I have the strength to take on the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation, and so I am unable to accept the invitation." She added that she would "do everything in my power to support a new, independent, and respected President of the Republic in achieving these goals."

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I will do everything in my power to support a new, independent, and respected President of the Republic in achieving these goals.

Magyar expressed regret but respect for Polgár's decision. He had initially backed her nomination late Sunday, following the ejection of the previous president, Tamás Sulyok, through a constitutional amendment. Magyar had promised a public consultation on the matter, and faced criticism for proceeding with Polgár's nomination without it. He later apologized for any "communication mistakes" but maintained that his Tisza party had sought recommendations from the Hungarian people.

Polgár's rejection leaves Magyar's party needing to find another nominee, who would require parliamentary approval. Her potential candidacy had been expected to receive unanimous backing from Magyar's Tisza party, which holds a two-thirds majority in parliament. Polgár remains the only woman to have reached the chess world's overall top 10 and has often spoken about overcoming sexism in the sport.

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I regret her decision, but I respect it.