President Peter Pellegrini gives his inaugural speech on June 15, 2024. (source: TASR - Jaroslav Novák)
Dear Madam President,
Dear Presidents,
Dear Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the National Council of the Slovak Republic,
Dear Prime Minister, who is recovering from injuries following the assassination attempt and is watching us from afar,
Dear President of the Constitutional Court,
Dear Members of Parliament,
Dear Members of the Government of the Slovak Republic,
Excellencies, esteemed guests, dear family, dear friends!
Allow me to sincerely thank you for your participation in this significant moment, which is the inauguration of the highest constitutional representative of the Slovak Republic. I am genuinely delighted to experience this precious moment in your presence. However, allow me now to address those who cast the vote in the presidential election and who cannot be here with us today – all the citizens of the Slovak Republic.
Dear fellow citizens, dear Slovaks!
I stand before you at the most important moment of my life so far, filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Pride as I gaze at our flag and gratitude for the knowledge I have gained through years of serving the people of Slovakia. Joy from your presence, and sorrow that one of the most important people in my life, my father, cannot be here with us. My personal emotions are deeply intertwined with the immense responsibility I have just assumed.
Yet, despite this, this exceptional moment is not about me. The president is indeed a living person with all their flaws and imperfections, but they are also a symbol of the country, a representative of the people at home and abroad, and an inseparable part of Slovakia’s democratic and constitutional framework.
I stand here today not by my own decision. I stand here because two months ago, the second largest number of voters in history entrusted me with this highest constitutional role. I am grateful for this immensely strong mandate, I deeply respect their trust, and I believe that I will never betray it.
But today I address all citizens of the Slovak Republic. Even those who voted for someone else. I address them with the hope that my performance as president will one day be worthy of their respect. And I also address those who did not vote at all, because they are full members of Slovak society and contribute to its shaping.
I speak to every single person in Slovakia with the belief that they feel like a solid part of the community of the Slovak Republic's citizens. I address them to let them know that I want to be their president as well.
It is customary for the head of state to take office with such a promise. However, I am convinced that this promise has never been so important as it is now. Because we are living in extraordinarily difficult times, where our long-term certainties are collapsing, and many people feel that their world has been turned upside down. And their lives are more filled with negative emotions than ever before, unfortunately making it worse than ever.
In recent years, I have travelled across Slovakia several times, from Malacky to Medzilaborce, from Oravská Polhora to Komárno. I have seen much goodness and hope in the eyes of thousands of Slovak people. But I have also seen a lot of fear, frustration, and sometimes even anger in their eyes.
But please – let’s not blame people for their feelings. Let’s have understanding not only for the opinions of experts and elites but also for Jozef Mak (a main character - a simple person who had a difficult life since birth - from the Jozef Mak novel by Jozef Cíger Hronský published in 1933, ed.) - “an ordinary person”. The lives of such people were surrounded for many years by certainties that formed the solid pillars of their external and internal worlds. And suddenly these certainties are gone.
Gone is the certainty of peace, which for many decades was an absolute given. We stopped appreciating its immense value because war was just a term from history textbooks for us. And suddenly it is here, close to our eastern border.
We meet the frightened faces of refugees from Ukraine on our streets, many of whom were saving their own lives. In the spirit of our traditional hospitality, we offered dinner, lodging, and a helping hand. But their frightened gaze, full of despair and endless tragedy, destroyed our certainty that we would only know war from the stories of our grandparents.
For many people, the certainty was also the belief that the real world is the one they see from their window. They can smell or touch it, the people in it are alive, and they know them by name. And suddenly, they face the reality of a new, virtual world, where their children or grandchildren live more often than in the real one. And in this digital world, real rules do not apply, real money is not used, real values are not created. And above all, time-tested truths no longer apply because today it seems everyone has a right to their own.
Entire generations carried the certainty that their life success would be primarily determined by their honest work. That they would go to their factory every day, perfect their craft, give their best in schools or hospitals, and their lives would continuously improve. And suddenly many of their skills or knowledge are not enough, because in a rapidly changing world, they are becoming unnecessary.
And the final blow to the confusion in many minds was an event a few weeks ago, unprecedented in our modern history. For decades, we lived with the belief that modern Slovakia could resolve all its crises democratically and constitutionally. After all, we did not shoot at each other even when the old regime was falling – and this change was recorded in history books in the velvet edition. Every political problem was eventually resolved at the ballot boxes, with every decision made by a single judge, the only holder of power: the citizen of the Slovak Republic.
And suddenly, before our eyes, there are endless slow-motion shots of the legitimate and democratic Slovak prime minister falling to the ground under the bullets of an assassin, narrowly missing his vital organs. And along with the prime minister’s health, they bury our certainty that such a thing could never happen in Slovakia.
I do not blame any person for whom the breaking down of these certainties causes confusion, frustration, or despair. Nor do I blame the anger triggered by real or perceived injustices.
Too many certainties have been shattered, too many wrongs and hatred has arisen.
The Covid pandemic ended not only many lives but also the belief that the world would continue to improve and that each new generation would live better than the previous one. After the deadly virus came the energy crisis, then economic problems, and finally a war full of human suffering. A lot of bad things have come to Slovakia from beyond its borders in recent years.
When living creatures find themselves in external danger, they instinctively come together to better face the threat. We have not yet managed to unite.
For several years, I have been warning that Slovakia is divided by a high mental wall, behind which two separate groups of society shout at each other. Today this wall is even sprinkled with blood. And if we never want more blood to be added, we must tear down this wall together.
We are one nation, one community, one Slovakia. In unity, we can better face all the tough challenges that lie ahead. And our history shows that it is possible.
Let us remember how, in the 19th century, a Slovakia divided by faith was united by the codified Slovak language, jointly supported by the evangelical followers of Ľudovít Štúr and the Catholic poet Ján Hollý.
Let us remember how, through agreement and consensus, Czechoslovakia was born in 1918, the first democratic living space for the Slovak nation. And not only thanks to the agreement of the Slovak giant Milan Rastislav Štefánik with Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Edvard Beneš, but also thanks to the consensus of all representatives of the Slovak nation at the assembly in Martin and the Martin Declaration.
Let us remember how in the 1944 Slovak National Uprising, old and young, men and women, communists with civic and social democrats, Slovaks with many other nations fought side by side against the occupiers. And in this unity against fascism, tens of thousands of people were willing to sacrifice their lives for freedom.
Let us remember how we were jointly inspired by the idea of socialism with a human face and rejected its death under the tracks of foreign tanks. How we jointly welcomed the November 1989 changes in the hope of a better, freer, and more dignified life. And how, thanks to human and societal consensus, we finally became a proud and sovereign state, and later a sovereign member country of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.
These are precious examples of what we urgently need today. Solidarity, unity, and a common goal. We need to choose the best from our history and its personalities.
We need the solidarity of Prince Svätopluk’s three rods.
We need the faith of missionaries Cyril and Methodius.
We need the poems of Andrej Sládkovič and the visionary leadership of Ľudovít Štúr.
We need the telegraphic connection of Jozef Murgaš and the energy of Aurel Stodola’s turbines.
We need the diplomacy and courage of Milan Rastislav Štefánik.
And also the humanity of Alexander Dubček.
If we are inspired by what we have already achieved in the past, we will be able to not only compete with the most developed countries in the world, but also be successful in this competition.
But please – let us not confuse the goal with the means. Our mutual understanding and reconciliation are just a necessary precondition to restore the missing certainties in our lives and once again give our world solid foundations.
We must be certain that we will do everything to achieve peace and never allow the further expansion of the war conflict beyond our borders. For the desire for peace is natural and certainly not a celebration of the aggressor.
We must be certain that we live in safety, where we are not afraid to walk on the street or send our children to school.
We must be certain that health and education are not commodities available exclusively to the wealthy.
We must be certain that in old age, sickness, and difficult life trials, we can rely on the helping hand of the state, which will not leave us to fend for ourselves.
We must be certain that we leave the Earth habitable for our children and their children so that everything we do for future generations makes sense.
We must be certain that regardless of our origin, faith, skin colour, or orientation, we are full-fledged members of Slovak society.
We must be certain that our honest work and the spiritual wealth we leave behind will be appreciated, regardless of the political regime under which they were created.
All these certainties can become new solid foundations for our lives and provide support that many people in Slovakia lack today.
Ladies and gentlemen, for years, I have been talking about the need for reconciliation and unity. For years I have been asked on what can such national cohesion be built. And for years I have been answering that our unification must be FOR something, not AGAINST something or someone.
We can unite for the common work on the tasks I have just listed. But we can try to find an even stronger glue. Common values that will give us a compass in moments when we temporarily lose our way.
We built the state on a greenfield. These are its foundations, its concrete, its hardware. These are solid things, but solidity without life is not enough. Every foundation needs walls and a roof. Every concrete needs to be enlivened with greenery, every hardware needs its software. And our walls, our greenery, and our software should be the values on which we as a nation and citizens of the Slovak Republic can unite. Decency, respect, freedom, mutual respect, and solidarity.
We must fill our statehood with something that every single citizen of the Slovak Republic will carry within them as part of their personality. Something that will persuade young people to return after completing their studies. Something that will compel Slovaks abroad to remain Slovaks at heart.
For me as the new president, these values are clear and very simple. State, nation, family, and individual.
In the spirit of my long-term political conviction, I speak of a strong state that is always a help and service to its citizens - never a burden. A state that is strong in its ability to help anyone who needs its help and to take care of people from cradle to grave. Strong in its ability to intervene where the market fails and to ensure correction.
But I also speak of a state that is outwardly strong. Because it can protect its borders, fulfil its own national interests, and claim its place at the global table where joint and important decisions are made.
When I speak of the nation, I fully subscribe to the constitution of the Slovak Republic, whose preamble begins with the words “We, the Slovak nation!” I am very aware of how, in today’s politically correct environment, it is almost inappropriate to speak of the nation. But I speak very clearly: the word "nation" must never become a victim of political correctness! I fully respect every single citizen of the Slovak Republic, regardless of which nation they identify with. But I am convinced that the Slovak nation has the right to the historical fact that the democratic Slovak Republic was established as a tool of its self-determination!
When I speak of the family, I speak of the true basic unit of Slovak society. And its basic value should not be its outward signs, but primarily its inner qualities. Whether it is a true support for its members, a background, a place for the transmission of values and the formation of a person. Hands on which we may cry. The family is a place where the words mother, father, brother, or sister gain their true meaning, where we learn the much-needed intergenerational solidarity that has always been the glue of our nation. Family is the place where we rightfully seek understanding in the toughest life trials.
And finally, there is the individual. I am firmly convinced that it is the individual who should be the focus of the state. It is the individual who deserves the state’s help from birth to a dignified old age. We are not born with the same abilities and the same preconditions. But everyone deserves the same chance and the same starting line. Children must not suffer due to the mistakes of their parents because they did not choose the family or environment they were born into. And equally, no one should be punished for the part of Slovakia they decided to live, work, and care for their family in.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of a nationwide discussion on which values we decide to work on and consciously develop in every individual. This discussion can very well be political. Let us not succumb to the false notion that politics must be devoid of conflict. It belongs there quite naturally, for politics should be a place for exchanging opinions and even battles over ideas and values. But this battle must have its rules.
Politics must not divide the family at the Sunday dinner table.
It must not divide long-time friends and colleagues in the workplace.
It must not become the driving force of negative and destructive emotions that lie dormant in society.
Let us not tolerate the deliberate spread of evil and hatred. We will recognize it very easily. It is not an attack on ideas, but an attack on the head of one’s political opponent.
Let us not allow people to be insulted for their expressed political opinion. Misunderstood, disappointed, and offended political egos must look in the mirror first and not blame fellow citizens and voters for their failure.
Let us not question the verdict of voters just because we do not like it at the moment. Respect for the election result is the very foundation of democratic order, and a necessary prerequisite for resolving political disputes in polling stations and never again with weapons in squares.
However, once our defined values are ultimately in place, their violation should be seen as abandoning the space that society is willing to tolerate. An individual who violates these values must know that by their own decision they are moving to the fringe of society, because such violations simply cannot and will not be accepted by society.
Ladies and gentlemen, defining nationwide accepted values and a common vision is the best prerequisite for us to succeed as a nation in these difficult times. But the situation has gone too far for us to wait until we manage it. Slovakia needs a remedy right now. And that remedy I offered in my presidential campaign and intend to offer with all my strength from the Presidential Palace. It is peace.
It is indisputable that politicians, opinion makers, or the media have a huge share in the tone prevailing in the public debate, where this debate is heading, and its outcome. But ultimately, the state of society is the result of the decisions of every single member. It depends on each of us whether we give free rein to negative emotions or become a beacon of peace and goodwill for our family, friends, or colleagues.
And therefore, today, I ask all my fellow citizens:
Each of us must ask ourselves how we can contribute, even in a small way, to calming society.
It is a fundamental task that today lies before politicians, opinion makers, and the media. But finding values on which we agree as a society and which we will honour is a task for each of us, for five and a half million people!
I, as president, am ready to do my utmost for this.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am convinced that we must return the basic elements of respect for the state, its symbols, and in this sense also for the office of the president of the republic to public life. However, if someone expects me to perform the role of the president as a kind of grandiose spectacle, they will be disappointed.
The work of the president should not be about theatrical and false gestures, which may look good on the outside and about which the media may write nicely for a few days. The performance of the president’s duties must be about daily honest work for the people. Not for gestures, not for media applause - but for the people. People are the bearers of power and grant it to all politicians, including the president. And they rightfully expect appropriate attention and real results.
The second historically strongest mandate of a directly elected president obliges me to be a support for every single citizen in every situation. It obliges me to ensure that people can rely on me and never have to be ashamed of me under any circumstances.
Just a moment ago, I took the oath of head of state, as prescribed by the constitution. It is extremely brief to encompass what is most important. But my personal promise as president to you, the citizens of the Slovak Republic, is a bit broader.
I want to promise you that I will unite Slovakia, where people of different nationalities, beliefs, world views, orientations, and races live together. I will seek a way to give all people a sense of a cohesive community that can pull together and move their homeland towards a better future.
For me, the national interests of the Slovak Republic will be more important than celebrity applause, media praise, or approval from world leaders. A self-confident and proud Slovakia, its people, nation, and state will always be my priority. Slovakia was, is, and will remain a firm part of the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance - but it will never be afraid to speak in its sovereign voice within them.
I will also work on healthy relationships with all our neighbours. With the Czech nation, we are literally connected by family ties. We look with respect at Poland, which gave the world a great pope. We will never forget Austria for being a refuge for many people during times of unfreedom, and we walked through history together with Hungary for centuries. We want to help Ukraine so that it can enjoy a just peace and subsequent reconstruction.
I will strive to create a strong and caring state whose focus is on the individual from birth to their dignified old age. A state that stands on the principle of social justice and can help all who need its help.
I will strive for politics characterised by fundamental decency, respect, and dignity. Politics where what matters is not who shouts the loudest or who insults their political opponent the most, but the ability to work for the people and, most importantly, to fulfil promises.
I will offer the Presidential Palace as a place where the long-term vision for Slovakia can be born. A place where even opposing political parties and genuine experts can come together at the same table to discuss a vision not just for one electoral term, but for decades ahead.
I will actively promote the vision of a united and cohesive nation that can come together for a common goal and succeed in this unity, compared to the most successful countries in the world. A vision of a peaceful and dignified life for all people in Slovakia.
This is my full pledge as president.
Ladies and gentlemen, Milan Rastislav Štefánik summed up in three words the foundation that should shape our lives: “Believe, love, work.”
It is faith that helps us overcome obstacles.
It is love that gives our life meaning.
And it is work through which we share the fruits of our life with others and move forward.
Let these three words unite us on both the smooth and thorny paths. Together, we have the ability to walk these paths firmly, dignified, and with hope.
Dear fellow citizens,
I know you, the Slovak people, and I truly love you. I have shaken hands with thousands of you and have been to all regions of Slovakia. I know very well how you live, what troubles you, and what you dream about. This knowledge is irreplaceable. With this understanding, I am ready to do everything in my power for you.
May God bless the Slovak people, may God protect our Slovakia!
