Rescue workers wheel Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was shot and injured, to a hospital in the town of Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, on Wednesday.
Jan Kroslak/TASR via AP
BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia — Slovakia's populist Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was gravely wounded Wednesday after being shot multiple times. Despite the severity of the attack, his deputy prime minister expressed optimism about Fico's chances of survival.
The assassination attempt occurred while the prime minister was meeting supporters at an event, sending shockwaves through the nation and beyond, just weeks ahead of a crucial election.
"I believe he will pull through," Tomas Taraba told the BBC, noting, "His condition is currently not life-threatening."
Doctors battled for several hours to save Fico's life after the 59-year-old, known for his pro-Russian stance, was struck in the abdomen, according to Defense Minister Robert Kalina speaking to reporters at the hospital where Fico was undergoing treatment.
The shooting took place outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova, approximately 140 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of the capital. Fico was attending a government meeting in the town, once a hub of coal mining.
A suspect is in custody, and initial investigations point to a clear political motive behind the assassination attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated during a briefing with reporters, alongside the defense minister.
Fico's pro-Russian, anti-American message
Fico has long been a polarizing figure, both within Slovakia and abroad. However, his return to power last year, championing a pro-Russian, anti-American agenda, raised significant concerns among fellow European Union members. Many feared he would steer Slovakia further away from Western values.
Upon commencing his fourth term as prime minister, Fico's administration suspended arms shipments to Ukraine, prompting critics to speculate about Slovakia's potential withdrawal from its pro-Western trajectory, especially concerning its NATO membership. Comparisons were drawn with Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, adding to the apprehension.
Thousands have taken to the streets in Slovakia, protesting against Fico's policies and his government's direction.
The attack on Fico, which occurred ahead of European Parliament elections, prompted a statement on his Facebook account, explaining that he was rushed to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, located 29 kilometers (17 miles) from Handlova, due to the proximity, rather than taking the longer journey to the capital, Bratislava.
The attack comes ahead of the European Parliament elections
A statement shared on Fico's Facebook account indicated that he was transported to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, which is 29 kilometers (17 miles) away from Handlova. This decision was made due to concerns over the time it would take to reach the capital, Bratislava.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 25, 2016. Fico returned to power in Slovakia last year, having previously served twice as prime minister.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
The assault coincides with intensifying political campaigning, occurring just three weeks before Europe-wide elections to elect lawmakers for the European Parliament. There is a growing worry that populists and nationalists, sharing similarities with Fico, may garner traction within the 27-member bloc.
However, amidst the shock of the attempt on Fico's life, conventional politics were set aside, highlighting the gravity of the situation for the nation.
"Incidents targeting the prime minister not only assail an individual but also strike at the core of democracy," stated outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, who is a political adversary of Fico, in a televised address. "All forms of violence are intolerable. The proliferation of hostile rhetoric in our society fosters hostile deeds. Let us cease it, please."
Reactions of shock in Slovakia and around the world
President-elect Peter Pellegrini, a close associate of Fico, labeled the attempted assassination as "an unparalleled menace to Slovak democracy. When political disagreements are settled with firearms in public squares rather than through ballots in polling stations, we endanger all that we have collectively constructed during 31 years of Slovak sovereignty."
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, center, speaks with people before a cabinet meeting in the town of Handlova, Slovakia, on Wednesday.
Radovan Stoklasa/AP
The recent elections that propelled Fico and his allies to power have underscored profound social divisions, exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine, Slovakia's eastern neighbor.
Gabor Czimer, a political journalist at the Slovakian news outlet Ujszo.com, observed that the election results revealed a stark divide within Slovak society, with one faction leaning towards Russia and another advocating for closer ties with the EU and the West.
"Yet, I never imagined it would escalate to physical violence," Czimer remarked.
Estok, the Slovak interior minister, addressed reporters outside the hospital, expressing concern that the country was "teetering on the brink of civil unrest" due to political tensions.
"Such hateful rhetoric is prevalent on social media platforms today, and it must be halted immediately," he urged.
U.S. President Joe Biden voiced his alarm, condemning the violent act in a statement.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg took to the social media platform X to express his shock and dismay at the assassination attempt on Fico's life. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen denounced it as a "despicable attack."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the violence against the head of government of a neighboring country.
"Every effort must be made to prevent violence from becoming normalized in any country, context, or domain," he emphasized.
Political opponents set aside differencesSlovakia's Parliament has been suspended indefinitely. The main opposition parties, Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity have called off a scheduled protest against a contentious government proposal to revamp public broadcasting, claiming it would grant the government complete authority over public radio and television.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks during a press conference with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, on Jan. 16.
Denes Erdos/AP
Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka urged all politicians to "avoid any statements or actions that might escalate tensions further."
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his hope for the prime minister's speedy recovery, emphasizing, "Violence cannot be tolerated; it has no place in society."
The Czech Republic and Slovakia were part of Czechoslovakia until 1992.
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