Hungary’s PM Magyar to ask chess champion Judit Polgar to become president

BUDAPEST, July 19 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on Sunday he would ask Judit Polgar, widely regarded as the greatest female chess player of all time, to take on the largely ceremonial role of Hungary’s next President.

In his Facebook post, Magyar said Polgar, 49, could represent the country’s unity and that he would meet with Polgar on Monday and ask him if he would accept the nomination.

The move came a day after President Tamas Sulyok signed a constitutional amendment adopted by Magyar’s ruling Tisza party, ending his term as head of state.

The law was part of Magyar’s attempt to eliminate former Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s bastions of power; Magyar says he has received a strong mandate from voters after overwhelmingly ousting the right-wing leader in elections in April.

Parliament, where Magyar’s party has a two-thirds majority allowing it to change any law, will elect a new president who will remain in office until the planned new constitution comes into force, or for a maximum of five years.

Judit Polgar and her two sisters – Zsuzsa (Susan) and Zsofia (Sofia) – together with Ildiko Madl, ended Soviet domination by winning the 1988 Chess Olympiad on behalf of Hungary’s women’s team.

Judit Polgar played in tournaments against men and became one of the best players in a male-dominated sport. She is the most talented woman to ever play the game and the only woman to surpass the 2700 rating threshold, which many consider the “Super GM” distinction.

In February, the documentary “The Queen of Chess” about Polgar was released on Netflix.

“I will meet him tomorrow and ask him if he is ready to serve our country in a new role until the new constitution is adopted,” Magyar said in his Facebook post.

“Judit Polgar’s name has been synonymous with talent and perseverance for decades.”

Polgar did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

(Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)