The ceremony took place amid heightened security after the assassination attempt on his close ally, populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a month ago.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Peter Pellegrini has been sworn in as Slovakia's new president in national parliament, the
00:08sixth since Slovakia gained independence in 1993.
00:13The 48-year-old is considered pro-Russian and an ally of the new prime minister, Robert
00:18Fico.
00:19Pellegrini called for national and European unity during his maiden speech.
00:25We are one nation, one society, one Slovakia, he said, adding that developing the country's
00:31relationships with its European neighbours, Poland, Austria and Hungary, is a priority.
00:37Populist leader Fico didn't attend the ceremony as he's recovering from a failed assassination
00:43attempt in May.
00:45Pellegrini beat pro-Western career diplomat Ivan Korchok in the presidential run-off,
00:50with his victory cementing Fico's grip on power by giving him major strategic posts.