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Slovakia rocked by assassination attempt on Prime Minister who was shot multiples times
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Germany, January 24, 2024. REUTERS/Nadja Wohlleben/File Photo
Following the announcement that Prime Minister Robert Fico had been shot numerous times and was struggling for his life, the confirmation from Slovakian police shocked the country. EU leaders condemned the attack, which happened in Handlova following a cabinet meeting.
The government declared on social media that “there was an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico, today after the government meeting in Handlova.”
Fico had been the nation’s leader since the previous year and was well-known for his populist views and charges of being Kremlin-friendly. The seriousness of the issue became apparent when officials described his hasty helicopter transport to Banska Bystrica, stating that the longer trip to Bratislava would not allow for the necessary quick intervention.
His official Facebook page acknowledged that he had been shot several times, confirming the seriousness of the attack. According to police spokesman Matej Neumann, “We confirm the attack on the prime minister,” AFP was told.
Marta Eckhardtova, the director of the local hospital in Handlova, stated that Fico was brought to their vascular surgery clinic, though she was unable to provide details regarding his injuries. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before security officers hurried the injured prime minister into a car. Dennik N’s correspondent recounted the tumultuous scene. The suspected gunman has already been taken into custody.
Slovakia’s president, Zuzana Caputova, expressed her shock and strongly denounced the “brutal and reckless attack” in a social media post
Petr Fiala, the prime minister of the Czech Republic, described the attack as “shocking” while stressing the need to oppose violence in society. With a supportive message, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment.”
Fico’s term has been tainted by controversy, especially after he made comments that weakened Slovakia’s ties with Ukraine. He has questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine and pushed for reconciliation with Russia. Mass protests were triggered domestically by his amendments to media legislation, which were criticised for possibly compromising the objectivity of public broadcasting.
At a press conference following the attack, MP Lubos Blaha of Fico’s Smer party used the opportunity to criticise the prime minister’s detractors, highlighting the profound divisions and unstable political terrain that have characterised Fico’s leadership. The country is now watching and waiting, hoping for his recovery in an atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety.
