President Regrets that Student Award Ceremony Overshadowed by No-handshake Event

Bratislava, January 14 (TASR) - I respect the gesture of a student who refused to shake my hand during the award ceremony at the Presidential Palace on Monday (January 13), President Peter Pellegrini told journalists during his foreign business trip to Italy, adding that it was an individual act of a young boy. However, the head of state regrets that it overshadowed an event that was supposed to honour Slovakia's top pupils and teachers. "I can do nothing but respect that. On the other hand, I'll put it like this: I was brought up in such a way that so far in my political career I've shaken hands with every person, even my political opponents, with whom I may have never agreed in political battles and will never agree. Decency and upbringing compel me to always treat even my political opponents decently," he said. Pellegrini thinks the student wanted to draw attention to himself and show his political stance. "I'm sorry that in doing so he overshadowed the beautiful event that thanks, respects and highlights our top students and educators who are achieving international success," he said, stressing that the award ceremony was apolitical. Pellegrini and Education Minister Tomas Drucker (Voice-SD) gave awards to students who won international competitions. The student refused to shake hands with the President, as he believed that Pellegrini had employed fearmongering and lies during the 2023 presidential election campaign with respect to the war in Ukraine. am/mcs