Hungarian PM nominates Jewish chess grandmaster Judit Polgar to serve as interim president

Chess legend Judit Polgar on Monday turned down Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s offer to join his push to break with the Viktor Orban era as the country’s president. The pro-European conservative had nominated Polgar, widely considered the greatest woman to have taken to the chequered board, as a figure from outside politics to help carry out his promise of “regime change” from Orban’s hardline 16-year tenure. “I do not feel I have the strength to take on the historic responsibility of...

Prime Minister Peter Magyar said that he would ask Ms. Polgar, widely regarded as the ‌greatest ever female chess player, to take up the largely ceremonial role of President until ‌a new constitution is passed Judit Polgár says she does not ‘feel enough strength within me’ to take on the responsibility of uniting a divided nationThe Hungarian chess ⁠legend Judit Polgár has said she will not accept the nomination for president, only a day after the ⁠prime minister, Péter Magyar, ⁠said he ​would ask her to take up the largely ceremonial role.Magyar had said he would meet Polgár on Monday to discuss the matter.

“Our country needs unity, peace and a president that all Hungarians can be proud of,” he wrote on social media. “Judit Polgár’s name has been synonymous with talent and perseverance for decades.” Continue reading... Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar will meet with former chess champion Judit Polgar on Monday to ask her if she will serve as the country's next president.

Hungarian lawmakers last week passed an amendment removing the current president from office after Magyar accused him of being a "puppet" of former prime minister Viktor Orban. Announcing nomination, Peter Magyar says Hungary 'needs unity, peace and a president whom every Hungarian can be proud of' The post Hungarian PM nominates Jewish chess grandmaster Judit Polgar to serve as interim president appeared first on The Times of Israel. Polgar is the only woman to have ​crossed the 2700-rating threshold that many consider the "Super GM" distinction.