New Slovak President Peter Pellegrini was sworn in on June 15. (Photo:  telegraphindia.com)

Pellegrini called for national unity in his speech at a special session of Parliament that took place at the seat of the Slovak philharmonic, becoming Slovakia’s sixth president since it gained independence after the disintegration of Czechoslovakia in 1993.

The 48-year-old Pellegrini beat pro-Western career diplomat Ivan Korčok in the presidential runoff vote on April 6. His victory cemented Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts.