Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was injured on Wednesday after being subjected to an assassination attempt by gunfire after a government meeting in the town of Handlova in the center of the country, while a government source confirmed that he was in a “critical condition” in the hospital. Fico previously headed the government between 2006 and 2010, as well as from 2012 to 2018. Since taking office last October, Fico has made a series of statements that have strained relations between Slovakia and neighboring Ukraine.
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Prime Minister transferred Slovakia Robert Fico was hospitalized after being exposed to an assassination attempt by gunfire after a government meeting in the town of Handelova in the center of the country, as local media reported. While a government source said that he was in a “critical situation.”
“Vicko was transferred to our hospital and received treatment in our vascular surgery unit,” said Marta Eckhartova, director of Handelova Hospital. “The Prime Minister was then transferred from the hospital, and is on his way to Bratislava,” she added.
Denik In Daily, whose correspondent saw the prime minister being transferred to a car by security guards, reported that police arrested the suspected gunman in the shooting.
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová expressed her shock at the “brutal” armed attack on the Prime Minister.
“I am shocked. I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength at this critical moment to recover from this brutal and irresponsible attack,” the outgoing president said in a statement.
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Widespread European condemnation
For her part, Raisa condemned European Commission Ursula von der Leyen’s “ugly attack” on the Slovak Prime Minister. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced a “cowardly attack.”
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also described the news of the attack as “shocking.” “I hope the prime minister recovers as soon as possible. We must not tolerate violence, and it must have no place in society,” he said on the X platform.
For his part, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, “Robert, my thoughts are with you at this very difficult moment.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly condemned the “brutal attack” against Fico and expressed her “shock and condemnation of all forms of violence and attacks on the basic principles of democracy and freedom.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his “shock and horror at the shooting” and wished Fico “the strength to recover quickly.” “My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his fans and the people of Slovakia,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also denounced the “horrific” shooting of the Slovak Prime Minister.
Fico also previously headed the government between 2006 and 2010, as well as from 2012 to 2018. Since taking office last October, Fico has made a series of statements that have strained relations between Slovakia and neighboring Ukraine.
France 24/AFP