The Hungarian chess champion Judit Polgar has declined the offer to become president, marking the first significant setback for Prime Minister Peter Magyar since he took office, as he publicly endorsed her candidacy just a day earlier.
Polgar, 49, stated on Facebook that the offer was “the greatest honor of her life”, but she did not feel she had “the strength to take on the historical responsibility of uniting a divided nation”.
Search for a New Candidate
Magyar proposed Polgar, widely regarded as the greatest chess player in history, for the presidency in a social media post on Sunday evening. This announcement came shortly after former president Tamás Sulyok resigned at Magyar‘s request. Magyar‘s party, “Tisza”, holds a secure two-thirds majority in parliament, which would have ensured almost guaranteed approval for Polgar.
Now, Magyar and his party must identify an alternative candidate for the vacant position. The vacancy arose from Magyar‘s intention to remove appointees of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán from key roles within the state apparatus.
Although the presidency of Hungary is largely ceremonial, the head of state has the authority to delay the signing of laws or refer them to the courts for constitutional review. Many officials were concerned that Sulyok might obstruct legislation crucial for restoring European Union funding, which Magyar depends on to implement his agenda.
Reaction to the Nomination and Political Context
In a speech before parliament, Magyar did not reiterate his support from Sunday, stating only that the new president, who will serve temporarily until a new constitution is developed, should emerge from broad social consensus. Some critics raised concerns about the lack of extensive consultations prior to Magyar‘s abrupt nomination of a candidate who, despite being a national hero since becoming a chess grandmaster at age 15, lacks political experience.
After 16 years of Viktor Orbán‘s rule, which concluded with Magyar‘s decisive victory in the April elections, the presidential office was held by loyalists whom the opposition accused of being government puppets. Allies of Orbán claimed that the removal of Sulyok, executed through a constitutional amendment that stripped him of his powers, is illegitimate, and they will not recognize any new president.
Source: Bloomberg
