Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has extended an extraordinary offer to Judit Polgár, the legendary chess grandmaster, asking her to become the country's president. In a Facebook post on Sunday evening, Magyar wrote that he would meet Polgár on Monday to discuss whether she would accept the role until a new constitution is adopted.
Polgár, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player in history, is the only woman to have broken the 2700 Elo rating barrier for super-grandmasters. She led the women's world rankings for 26 consecutive years, reached a career-high eighth place on the overall world list, and is a two-time women's Chess Olympiad champion. She has never held a political position.
“Our country needs unity, peace and a president in whom every Hungarian can be proud,” Magyar wrote. “The presidency is not a profession, not a job, but the highest form of service. The president’s duty is to serve and to represent every Hungarian.”
Magyar noted that Polgár had been proposed by “recognised figures of Hungarian public life.” He praised her as a symbol of talent and perseverance, adding: “For decades, Judit Polgár's name has been synonymous with talent and perseverance. As the most successful female player in chess history, she led the women's world rankings uninterrupted for 26 years, while also breaking into the top ten of the overall world list.”
Polgár is a five-time Chess Olympiad champion, an international grandmaster, and a recipient of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary. Her life story was recently featured in the documentary The Queen of Chess. In a further sign of her international standing, Christ’s College at the University of Cambridge elected her to its fellowship a few weeks ago.
“Judit Polgár's career to date has always been about performance. The esteem in which she is held is not due to political loyalties or connections, but to her exceptional talent, diligence, extraordinary stamina and integrity,” Magyar wrote. “She is a Hungarian whose achievements inspire respect and admiration at home and across the world.”
Political Context and Timing
The offer comes at a moment of constitutional flux in Hungary. On Saturday evening, President Tamás Sulyok announced he would sign the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law. His mandate will end the day after the law is promulgated, meaning he ceased to be president from midnight on Sunday. For one month, the office will be held by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ágnes Forsthoffer.
Magyar’s move is part of a broader push to reshape Hungary’s political landscape. His government has sought to recover EU migration fines and funds, and a recent EU report hailed a 'radical change' in Hungary's rule of law under his leadership. The choice of a non-political figure like Polgár may be intended to signal a break with the past and bolster national unity.
Speculation about Polgár’s potential candidacy had been building since early July, when Magyar posted a photo on social media of himself playing chess with her. The image sparked lively debate in Hungarian media about whether she might be his pick for head of state.
If Polgár accepts, she would bring a reputation for integrity and excellence to a role that has often been mired in political controversy. Her appointment would be a striking departure from the norm, placing a globally respected athlete at the helm of the Hungarian state during a period of constitutional transition.
