Politics & Governance
Judit Polgar declines proposal to become Hungary's president
Hungarian chess figure Judit Polgar said on Monday that she would not accept Prime Minister Peter Magyar's proposal to become Hungary's president.
Magyar, described in the report as a pro-European conservative, had put forward Polgar as a non-political figure who could help with his promise of a change from Viktor Orban's 16-year period in power. Polgar wrote on social media that she did not feel she had the strength to take on what she called the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation. She said she would support the choice of a new, independent and respected president.
Magyar had backed Polgar late on Sunday after President Tamas Sulyok was removed by a constitutional amendment last week. He had called her a president of whom Hungarians could be proud. After her refusal, Magyar said he regretted her decision but respected it.
Polgar, who is due to turn 50 on Thursday, was the world's top-ranked woman chess player for 25 years before retiring in 2014. The report said she is widely respected in Hungary and remains the only woman to have reached the overall world chess top 10. She has spoken about sexism in chess, defeated several male world champions, including Garry Kasparov in 2002, and has focused since retirement on education and promoting chess among young people.
Magyar drew criticism for moving ahead with Polgar's nomination on Sunday, one day after promising a public consultation. After her refusal, he apologised for any communication mistakes but said his Tisza party had asked Hungarians for recommendations. Szabolcs Pek, a senior analyst at the Iranytu Institute think tank, told AFP that Magyar appeared to have made an early communication mistake in the nomination process. Pek said Polgar may have helped Magyar by declining, because Tisza could now involve supporters more before choosing another nominee.
It was not immediately clear who Magyar would nominate next. Any nominee would need approval from parliament, which elects Hungary's president. Magyar said Tisza was expected to meet several more times this week and would make what he called a responsible decision on the person best suited for the presidency. If Polgar had accepted, the report said she would have had the unanimous support of Tisza, which has a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Polgar's name had first been suggested in an open letter signed by 16 prominent Hungarians, including Rubik's Cube inventor Erno Rubik.
Sulyok's last day in office was Sunday after lawmakers passed the amendment ending his term. He criticised the amendment as ending democratic rule of law in Hungary but signed it on Saturday, saying he had no way to challenge it. Magyar has accused Sulyok and other top officials of being Orban's puppets. Some rights groups criticised the constitutional change, with Human Rights Watch saying it was reminiscent of the Fidesz era. Fidesz, Orban's party, also criticised the ousting.
Magyar said the change was needed to reduce Orban's hold on the Hungarian state. Sulyok, a former head of the Constitutional Court, had been elected in 2024 for a five-year term and was little known to the public before that. The report said polls suggested most Hungarians wanted him removed. Agnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of parliament, is temporarily serving as head of state.
Update
Polgar said she did not feel able to take on the responsibility of uniting a divided nation.
Magyar said he regretted but respected Polgar's decision.
Magyar faced criticism for announcing the nomination after pledging a public consultation.
Analyst Szabolcs Pek said Polgar's refusal may have helped Magyar by allowing Tisza to involve supporters more before another choice.
Magyar said Tisza was expected to meet several times this week before deciding on another nominee.
The report adds details on Polgar's chess career, her public standing in Hungary, and the open letter that proposed her name.
The report adds context on Tamas Sulyok's removal, criticism from Sulyok and rights groups, and Agnes Forsthoffer's temporary role as head of state.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 19:14:29 UTC.
Update
Polgar said on social media that she did not feel able to take on the responsibility of uniting a divided nation.
Magyar had backed Polgar late on Sunday after the removal of President Tamas Sulyok by constitutional amendment last week.
Magyar asked Hungarians to suggest other possible nominees before Polgar's rejection.
A nominee would need parliamentary approval, and Magyar's Tisza party has a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Agnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of parliament, is temporarily serving as head of state.
The source adds details about Polgar's chess career, her public profile and criticism of sexism in chess.
The source includes criticism from analyst Szabolcs Pek and rights groups about the nomination process and constitutional change.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 18:00:40 UTC.
Update
Polgar said she did not feel able to take on the responsibility of uniting a divided nation and said she would support a new independent and respected president.
Peter Magyar had backed Polgar late on Sunday after President Tamas Sulyok was removed by constitutional amendment last week.
Magyar faced criticism for advancing Polgar's nomination after pledging a public consultation.
Peter Kreko of Political Capital said Polgar would have been an unorthodox choice because previous Hungarian presidents had political experience.
Magyar asked Hungarians for suggestions for a new head of state before Polgar rejected the offer.
The report adds details on Polgar's chess career, public standing and the earlier open letter that proposed her name.
The report adds context on Sulyok's removal, criticism from rights groups and Fidesz, and Agnes Forsthoffer serving temporarily as head of state.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 17:31:03 UTC.
Update
Judit Polgar turned down Peter Magyar's proposal that she become Hungary's president.
Polgar said she did not feel she had the strength to take on the responsibility of uniting a divided nation.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 17:11:43 UTC.
Update
Peter Magyar was to meet Judit Polgar on Monday to ask whether she would take the presidency.
Polgar has not commented publicly on the proposal.
The idea of Polgar as president was first put forward in an open letter signed by 16 prominent Hungarians, including Erno Rubik.
Peter Kreko said Polgar would be an unorthodox choice because previous Hungarian presidents had political experience, but could play a complementary diplomatic role.
Tomas Sulyok's last day in office was Sunday after lawmakers passed a constitutional amendment removing him.
Agnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of parliament, is temporarily serving as head of state until parliament elects a new president.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 11:04:09 UTC.
Update
Tamas Sulyok's last day as president was Sunday.
Agnes Forsthoffer, the speaker of parliament, is set to serve temporarily as head of state until parliament elects a new president within 30 days.
Human Rights Watch criticised the constitutional change as reminiscent of the Fidesz era.
The source adds that Magyar accused Sulyok and other top state officials of being Orban's puppets.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 08:01:11 UTC.
Update
Peter Magyar said Hungary needs unity, peace and a president of whom all Hungarians can be proud.
Magyar said he will meet Judit Polgar on Tuesday to ask whether she would be willing to serve.
The source describes Polgar as a former chess grandmaster.
Hungarian lawmakers passed an amendment last week that will remove current President Tamas Sulyok.
The source describes Sulyok as an ally of former prime minister Viktor Orban.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 07:26:54 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It was not immediately clear whom Magyar would seek to nominate next.
Source
AFP news report published on .