Published: 13:54, July 20, 2026
Hungarian PM to ask chess grandmaster Judit Polgar to serve as president
By Xinhua

Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar speaks as he arrives for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, July 8, 2026. (PHOTO / AP)

BUDAPEST – Hungary's Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sunday that he will meet chess grandmaster Judit Polgar on Monday to ask her to serve as the country's new president.

In his Facebook post, Magyar described Polgar as a figure "synonymous with talent and perseverance," adding that the country needs "unity, peace, and a president of whom every Hungarian can be proud."

He said the presidency represents "the highest form of service," and that he would consider it an honor if Polgar accepted the nomination.

READ MORE: Hungarian president signs constitutional amendment ending own mandate

Polgar, born in Budapest in 1976, is a Hungarian chess grandmaster and a five-time Chess Olympiad champion.

Hungarian President Tamas Sulyok on Saturday signed the country's 17th constitutional amendment, triggering the end of his mandate as head of state.