Hungary’s Judit Polgár Declines Presidential Nomination

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief reporting from Budapest

BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungarian chess grandmaster Judit Polgár on Monday declined Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s invitation to become Hungary’s next president, saying she did not feel able to shoulder the “historic responsibility” of uniting a divided nation.

Her decision came just hours after it emerged that a company linked to the Judit Polgár Chess Foundation had received nearly 700 million forints (about $2.2 million) in state funding from the previous government led by former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The funding, approved in 2021, was awarded to JPF World Kft., a company of the Judit Polgár Chess Foundation, to expand the Chess Palace educational program, Worthy News learned.

The initiative uses chess as a teaching tool to help children develop logical thinking, problem-solving skills and other cognitive abilities.

The Skill Development Chess course, based on the Chess Palace program, has been available as an optional subject in Hungarian primary schools since 2013.

PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION

Magyar announced Sunday that he would personally ask Polgár, widely regarded as the strongest female chess player in history, whether she would be willing to serve as president following the departure of Tamás Sulyok.

The nomination quickly sparked debate in Hungary, with some analysts describing it as Magyar’s first politically divisive move since taking office.

Political analyst Gábor Török said the nomination could trigger serious debate even among Magyar’s own supporters.

Former opposition leader Péter Márki-Zay also questioned the choice, saying he could not recall Polgár publicly criticizing controversial policies introduced during Orbán’s years in power, making it difficult to assess how she would safeguard Hungary’s democratic institutions as head of state.

Despite the criticism, the governing Tisza Party’s parliamentary faction backed Polgár’s candidacy.

POLGÁR DECLINES

In a public statement Monday, Polgár thanked those who had proposed her candidacy and praised Magyar for nominating an independent figure despite his party’s large parliamentary majority.

“I consider it the honor of my life to be invited to the position of President of the Republic, and I am extremely grateful for it,” she wrote.

However, she added: “I do not feel strong enough to take on the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation, so I cannot accept the invitation.”

Polgár said she would instead support “a new, independent and respected President of the Republic” in achieving those goals.

Magyar later thanked Polgár publicly, writing: “Dear Judit! Thank you for everything you have done for Hungary. Perhaps on behalf of millions of Hungarians, I can say that even if it is in a different way, we will continue to count on you in the future.”

SEARCH FOR SUCCESSOR

Magyar had pledged broad public consultations over the choice of Hungary’s next head of state after former President Tamás Sulyok left office following his approval of the 17th Amendment to Hungary’s Fundamental Law.

Prominent figures from Hungary’s cultural, scientific and sporting communities had endorsed the eight-time Chess Olympiad gold medalist and international grandmaster for the largely ceremonial but symbolically important office.

With Polgár declining the nomination, the government is expected to continue its search for an independent consensus candidate to serve as Hungary’s next president until a new constitutional framework is adopted.

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