Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar is set to meet today (Monday) with Jewish-Hungarian chess champion Judit Polgár to offer her the position of president of Hungary. “It would be a tremendous honor,” he wrote on his X account.
In a statement ahead of the meeting, Magyar said his country needs “unity, peace, and a president every Hungarian can be proud of.” The presidency, he said, is not a profession or a job, but “the highest service”—meant to serve and represent all Hungarian citizens.
Magyar praised Polgár’s achievements, noting that for decades her name has become a symbol of talent, determination, and perseverance. He pointed out that she led the women’s world chess rankings for 26 consecutive years, became the first woman to break into the top ten of the overall world rankings, won the Chess Olympiad five times, was awarded Hungary’s Order of Saint Stephen, and was recently elected a fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge University.
According to Magyar, the respect Polgár commands doesn’t come from political connections, but “from her exceptional talent, diligence, perseverance, and integrity.” Polgár, a Budapest native, is one of the most prominent names in world chess history. Her parents and sister immigrated to Israel, and according to reports she also holds Israeli citizenship. It’s unclear at this stage whether she will accept Magyar’s offer and agree to run for president of Hungary.