Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a “very serious” but stable condition following an assassination attempt, a hospital official stated. The 59-year-old leader was critically wounded and required immediate surgery after being shot five times on Wednesday.
Fico was transported to the FD Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, where he underwent five hours of surgery conducted by two medical teams to treat multiple gunshot wounds. Miriam Lapunikova, the hospital’s director, informed reporters that while Fico’s condition is now stabilized, it remains extremely serious, necessitating his stay in the intensive care unit.
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak noted that doctors successfully stabilized Fico’s condition overnight, and further medical procedures are ongoing to ensure continued improvement. Despite the progress, Kalinak emphasized the gravity of Fico’s injuries, describing them as “serious polytrauma” due to the complexity of the gunshot wounds.
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok confirmed the political motivation behind the assassination attempt, which occurred shortly after the presidential election in April, won by Fico’s ally Peter Pellegrini. Estok highlighted that this politically charged atmosphere culminated in the violent act against Fico.
The attack, carried out by a 71-year-old man in the central Slovak town of Handlova, has shocked the nation and drawn international condemnation. This incident marks the first significant assassination attempt on a European political leader in over two decades, reflecting the increasingly tense and polarized political climate across Europe. Slovakia, a NATO and European Union member, has little history of political violence, making this event particularly jarring.
Prominent global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden, expressed their shock and condemned the attack. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the incident as a “great tragedy” and stressed its absolute unacceptability. President Biden affirmed the US embassy’s close communication with the Slovak government, offering assistance as needed.
The assassination attempt underscores the deep political divisions within Slovakia, a nation of 5.4 million people that has experienced heightened political debate and polarization. Since his return to office in October, Fico has implemented rapid policy changes, including reducing support for Ukraine, engaging in dialogue with Russia, weakening anti-corruption measures, and restructuring the public broadcaster RTVS, actions critics view as a power grab.
Fico has been critical of Slovakia’s mainstream media, often avoiding communication with certain outlets, and his party members have accused the media and opposition of exacerbating political tensions. In response to the attack, Interior Minister Estok called for an end to hate speech and divisive rhetoric across social media and the media, urging for unity irrespective of political affiliations.
The assassination attempt took place as Fico was exiting a building in Handlova where he had chaired a government meeting. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots as Fico approached a crowd waiting to greet him. Police quickly subdued and arrested the shooter, identified as a former shopping mall security guard and a member of the Slovak Society of Writers.
The shooter’s son, cited by news outlet Aktuality.sk, expressed shock, stating he had no knowledge of his father’s intentions or plans. The shooter legally owned a gun, but his motives remain unclear.
The violent attack on Prime Minister Fico has left the Slovak community and international observers reeling, emphasizing the need for addressing the root causes of such political violence and fostering a more inclusive and peaceful political dialogue.
