Hungary's PM Suggests Chess Icon Judit Polgár for Presidency

WHO:

Euronews.com - Péter Magyar, Prime Minister of Hungary

Euronews.com - Judit Polgár, world-renowned chess grandmaster

Daily News Hungary - Tamás Sulyok, current President of Hungary

Daily News Hungary - Ágnes Forsthoffer, Speaker of the National Assembly

Daily News Hungary - 16 leading figures from science, culture, and sport, including Ernő Rubik, László Lovász, Albert-László Barabási, Tibor Kapu, János Kulka, Pál Mácsai, András Kepes, Krisztina Tóth, Lajos Parti Nagy, Pál Závada, and Tímea Nagy

WHAT:

Euronews.com - Péter Magyar invited Judit Polgár to become Hungary’s president.

Daily News Hungary - Magyar will meet Polgár to ask if she is willing to serve as head of state until Hungary’s new constitution is adopted.

Daily News Hungary - President Tamás Sulyok announced he would sign the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law, ending his mandate.

Daily News Hungary - Parliament must elect a new president within 30 days.

Daily News Hungary - Judit Polgár is proposed for the presidency by 16 prominent figures in a letter to Ágnes Forsthoffer.

WHERE:

Euronews.com - Hungary

Daily News Hungary - Christ’s College, University of Cambridge

WHEN:

Daily News Hungary - Magyar plans to meet Polgár on Monday.

Daily News Hungary - Sulyok's mandate will end the day after the law is promulgated, meaning he will no longer be president from midnight on Sunday.

WHY:

Euronews.com - Magyar stated that Hungary needs unity, peace, and a president that every Hungarian can be proud of.

Daily News Hungary - Magyar believes Judit Polgár represents the vision of a president who has built her reputation through achievement rather than political connections.

HOW:

Daily News Hungary - The election of the president will be conducted by Parliament through a secret ballot.

(UPDATED July 20, 2026 13:35 UTC)

In a significant political move, Péter Magyar, the Prime Minister of Hungary, has invited world-renowned chess grandmaster Judit Polgár to consider becoming the country's next president. Magyar plans to meet with Polgár on Monday to discuss her willingness to serve as head of state until a new constitution is adopted, following President Tamás Sulyok's announcement that he will sign the 17th amendment to the Fundamental Law, ending his mandate. Sixteen prominent figures from various fields have proposed Polgár for the presidency, emphasizing the need for unity and a leader who embodies achievement over political connections, with Parliament set to elect a new president through a secret ballot within 30 days.