Chess legend Judit Polgar on Monday rejected Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar’s request to join his push to end Viktor Orban’s reign as the country’s president.
The European-backed conservative had appointed Polgar, considered the most senior woman ever to be appointed to the supervisory board, as an outsider to help deliver on his promise of “regime change” from Orban’s troubled 16-year term.
“I don’t feel I have the strength to take on the historic role of uniting a divided nation and therefore I cannot accept the invitation,” Polgar posted on the social network.
“I will do everything in my power to support the new, independent and respected President of the Republic in achieving these goals,” he wrote.
After ousting unpopular president Tamas Sulyok over a constitutional amendment last week, Magyar endorsed Polgar late Sunday as “a president that all Hungarians can be proud of”.
“I regret his decision but I respect it,” Magyar said on social media after Polgar’s announcement.
