Fico survives assassination attempt
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico Hospitalized After Assassination Attempt
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was hospitalized on Wednesday following an assassination attempt that shocked the nation. Fico was shot five times after an off-site government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova.
The attack occurred outside a cultural center where the meeting took place, with the suspected gunman among a small crowd waiting to greet the prime minister on the street. Footage from the scene shows Fico being quickly taken into a vehicle by his staff and rushed to a local hospital before being transferred by helicopter to a major trauma center.
According to officials, Fico’s defense and interior ministers described the shooting as politically motivated, with the suspect allegedly making the decision shortly after a presidential election. Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba expressed belief that Fico would survive following successful surgery, stating that “the operation went well” and that Fico was “not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”
Taraba recounted his shock upon hearing of the shooting and described Fico’s injuries, noting that one bullet went through the stomach and another hit the joints.
Fico, known as Slovakia’s most powerful lawmaker, was transported to Banska Bystrica instead of the capital Bratislava for medical treatment due to the need for an acute intervention. Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová confirmed the detention of the suspected gunman and urged the public to avoid spreading unconfirmed rumors.
Čaputová condemned the attack as “brutal and reckless” and labeled it as an assault on democracy. Slovakia’s defense and interior ministers blamed rising hate speech and division in the country for the political atmosphere that led to the assassination attempt.
In response to the shooting, Defense Minister Kaliňák urged for calm and introspection, stating, “Hate is not an answer to hate.” Interior Minister Šutaj-Eštok called for an end to violence and warned against spreading further hate.
Fico’s political stance has been a subject of controversy. He won a third term as prime minister last October, advocating for a shift in Slovakia’s foreign policy towards closer ties with Russia and criticizing western support for Ukraine. His coalition government’s domestic reforms have sparked large-scale protests, particularly against efforts to overhaul the criminal justice system and to control public broadcasting.
World leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and US President Joe Biden, condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with Slovakia and wishing Fico a speedy recovery.
