The former world chess champion declined the nomination made by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, while the country continues without a head of state following the resignation of Tamás Sulyok and awaits Parliament to elect his successor
Hungary continues to face a political and institutional crisis following the departure of President Tamás Sulyok. In this context, chess grandmaster Judit Polgár rejected the proposal from Prime Minister Péter Magyar to become the next president of the country, leaving the search for a candidate to head the State vacant once again.
Polgár explained that she does not feel capable of taking on such a significant responsibility. In a message released this Monday, she stated that she does not have "the sufficient strength" to face the challenge of trying to unite a deeply divided nation.
Former Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok alongside Viktor Orban
The refusal comes just days after Tamás Sulyok's resignation, who signed the constitutional reform that prematurely ended his term. Before leaving office, the now former president harshly criticized the changes pushed by the Government and stated that the reform represented "the end of the democratic State", in addition to accusing Prime Minister Péter Magyar of concentrating power and weakening institutional checks and balances.
Following Sulyok's departure, the presidency is temporarily in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament, while the Constitution sets a deadline of up to 30 days for the National Assembly to elect a new head of State. However, Polgár's rejection forces the ruling party to seek another candidate for a position that, although it has mostly ceremonial functions, carries significant institutional weight.
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Prime Minister Magyar had presented the former chess player as a consensus figure capable of contributing to national reconciliation during the reform process driven by his government. Nevertheless, Polgár's decision represents a setback for the Executive at a time of strong political tension and debate over the scope of the constitutional changes approved in recent weeks.
While the Government maintains that the reforms aim to transform institutions following the change of administration, Sulyok's criticisms and the difficulty in finding a new president keep the political debate open in Hungary. With the country still without a definitive head of State, Parliament must proceed with the election of a successor within the timeframe set by the Constitution to end a period of institutional uncertainty.
