Peter Pellegrini is sworn in as Slovakia's new president

The ceremony took place amid heightened security after the assassination attempt on his close ally, populist Prime Minister Robert Fico, a month ago.

Transcript

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.