Head of state: Hungary: Prime Minister wants chess star Polgar as new president

Hungary’s new Prime Minister Peter Magyar wants to propose former chess prodigy Judit Polgar for the office of President. As Magyar wrote on Facebook, he is planning a meeting with the 49-year-old this Monday and hopes that she will do him “the great honor” of accepting this nomination.

The post is vacant after President Tamas Suylok, a political friend of right-wing populist Viktor Orban, who was voted out in April, was removed from office by parliament. In Hungary the head of state is elected by parliament. Magyar’s Tisza party has a two-thirds majority there.

Five-time Olympic champion

Polgar is a multiple Olympic champion in chess. «For decades, the name Judit Polgár has stood for talent and perseverance. As the most successful female chess player in history, she led the women’s world rankings for 26 years without interruption and was also one of the top ten players in the world rankings,” Magyar wrote.

Polgar ended her active career more than ten years ago, but remained active in chess promotion. It also supports education and equal opportunities through a foundation. She has not yet held any political office.

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