The pro-European conservative had nominated Polgar, widely considered the greatest woman to have taken to the chequered board, as a figure from outside politics to help carry out his promise of "regime change" from Orban's hardline 16-year tenure."I do not feel I have the strength to take on the historic responsibility of uniting a divided nation, and so I am unable to accept the invitation," Polgar posted on social media."I will do everything in my power to support a new, independent, and respected President of the Republic in achieving these goals," she added.After ejecting unpopular President Tamas Sulyok by constitutional amendment last week, Magyar backed Polgar late on Sunday as "a president of whom all Hungarians can be proud"."I regret her decision, but I respect it," Magyar said on social media after Polgar's announcement.
Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar wanted Polgar to be a part of his post-Orban clearout © Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP
Polgar, who will turn 50 on Thursday, was the top-ranked woman chess player for 25 years before retiring in 2014, and commands widespread respect in Hungary.But Magyar faced criticism for pushing ahead with her nomination on Sunday, a day after pledging a public consultation on the matter. After her rejection was made public, the prime minister apologised for any "communication mistakes", but insisted that his Tisza party "asked the Hungarian people for their recommendations"."It seems Peter Magyar made his first communication blunder of his premiership by missing a beat in the nomination process," Szabolcs Pek, a senior analyst at Iranytu Institute think tank, told AFP.'Did Magyar a favour'"In the end, Polgar did a favour to Magyar by declining the offer... I assume Tisza will try to involve his supporters more before making his next choice," Pek argued.Who Magyar would seek to nominate next was not immediately clear. Any choice of nominee would have had to be approved by parliament, which elects the president in Hungary's political system.In the wake of Polgar's rejection, Magyar said that his party "is expected to meet several more times this week" and would "make a responsible decision on whom we consider best suited to become Hungary's next president".Had Polgar accepted, she would have enjoyed the unanimous backing of Magyar's Tisza party, which commands a two-thirds majority in parliament.Polgar remains the only woman to have reached the chess world's overall top 10.Her career has often drawn comparisons with the hit Netflix show "The Queen's Gambit", with Polgar saying that she enjoyed the show's "attention to detail".
