Peter Pellegrini assumed the presidency of Slovakia on June 15, 2024. Before being elected, he served as the Chairman of Parliament and as the leader of the Hlas-SD coalition party. He succeeded Zuzana Čaputová as the head of state.
A year after, Pellegrini emphasized the responsibility of holding the second strongest presidential mandate in Slovakia's history, saying, “This mandate commits me to be a support for every citizen in every situation. It obligates me to ensure that people can rely on me and that they will never be ashamed of me, no matter the circumstances.”
One of Pellegrini's primary concerns is addressing societal tensions. In a special debate on Slovak Television on Sunday, he noted that dramatic events have marked his term (despite them not taking place during his term), such as the murder of a journalist and the attempted assassination of the prime minister. He believes that political tensions, particularly between different population groups, remain high and are driven by political divisions.
He further remarked that reconciliation and societal change cannot solely be expected from politicians. Instead, he called on every citizen to contribute to peace, stressing that politicians must play their part as well.
Prime Minister Robert Fico (SMER-SD) expressed confidence in Pellegrini’s non-partisan approach, though he acknowledged that Pellegrini’s political past occasionally influences his decisions. "This is understandable, given the relatively short time he has spent in office as president. Our relations are proper and I care that they remain so," Fico said.
Martin Dubéci, Chairman of the PS parliamentary caucus, pointed to a mix of successes and shortcomings in Pellegrini’s early term, noting positive actions such as his address on the State of the Republic and his handling of the COVID amnesty, but also critiquing his approach to more complex political issues.
Political scientist Miroslav Řádek from Alexander Dubček University in Trenčín expressed concerns about Pellegrini's perceived hyper-partisanship. He argued that the president sometimes offers advice to the government on foreign policy, suggesting areas where it could do better.
Pellegrini has hinted at running for re-election but emphasized that he would only do so if he feels confident in the people's support, including through positive polling. “If I sense that people have a different idea, I will consider it,” he stated.
Political analyst Aneta Világi suggested that Pellegrini’s future prospects would largely depend on who his opponents are in the next election. "We just had the opportunity to see that in the last elections, while the whole coalition did not actually express formal support for Pellegrini, he was lagging behind in the opinion polls in a way."
The president's priorities for the coming term include modernizing the country and maintaining Slovakia's position among democratic states.
Source: STVR
