The parliamentary group of Hungary’s ruling Tisza party has unanimously voted to support international chess grandmaster Judit Polgár to serve as the nation’s next president. The endorsement follows Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s formal proposal to offer the largely ceremonial role to the 49-year-old sports icon, who is widely considered the greatest female chess player in history. Magyar highlighted Polgár’s integrity, extraordinary talent, and freedom from partisan politics as key qualities needed to represent national unity and serve as head of state until a planned new constitution is adopted.
The nomination comes after outgoing President Tamás Sulyok, appointed under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, signed a constitutional amendment ending his term early. Since taking office following a landslide election victory in April, Magyar’s administration has used its two-thirds parliamentary majority to systematically dismantle remaining strongholds of Orbán’s influence. With Tisza lawmakers holding a supermajority in parliament, Polgár’s election is virtually assured, positioning her to become Hungary’s first head of state drawn from the world of elite sports.
