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Mahigit 4.2 milyong botante, binura sa listahan ng Comelec

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Mahigit 4.2 milyong botante, binura sa listahan ng Comelec

MAYNILA. Inalis na sa opisyal na listahan ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang mahigit na 4.2 milyong rehistradong botante dahil sa iba’t ibang kadahilanan.

Ayon sa datos na inilabas ni Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia noong Mayo 16, 2023, kabuuang 4,239,483 botante ang aalisin mula sa voter’s list. “4.2M voters will be deactivated. Hence deductible to the present total no. of voters of 68M,” pahayag ni Garcia sa mga mamamahayag.

Sa nasabing bilang, ang pinakamalaking bahagi ng idi-deactivate ay dahil sa hindi pagboto sa dalawang magkasunod na halalan, na umabot sa 4,237,054 botante. Kasama rin sa aalisin ang 1,829 botante na “excluded per court order,” 595 na hindi nakapag-validate ng kanilang rehistro, tatlong nawalan ng Filipino citizenship, at dalawang napatawan ng pinal na sentensya ng hukuman.

Ang pinakamalaking bilang ng mga idi-deactivate na botante ay nasa Region 4A (Calabarzon) na umabot sa 733,903, at Region 3 (Central Luzon) na may 503,297 na botante.

Patuloy ang Comelec sa kanilang kampanya para siguraduhin ang pagiging tapat at maayos ng voter’s list ng bansa, na kasalukuyang may 68 milyong rehistradong botante.

Xi and Putin pledge new era of partnership, condemn U.S. dominance

Venus L Peñaflor
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Xi and Putin pledge new era of partnership, condemn U.S. dominance

BEIJING/MOSCOW. China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin pledged to forge a “new era” of partnership on Thursday, positioning themselves as a counterbalance to the United States, which they criticized as an aggressive Cold War hegemon creating global instability.

Xi welcomed Putin with a red carpet ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, featuring a 21-gun salute in Tiananmen Square, marching soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army, and children waving Chinese and Russian flags.

In their joint statement, Xi and Putin reaffirmed a “no limits” partnership, first declared in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before launching a military incursion into Ukraine. This conflict has since become the deadliest land war in Europe since World War II.

“The China-Russia relationship today is hard-earned, and the two sides need to cherish and nurture it,” Xi told Putin. “China is willing to… jointly achieve the development and rejuvenation of our respective countries, and work together to uphold fairness and justice in the world.”

The leaders’ joint statement outlined a unified stance against the U.S. on various security issues, covering topics from Taiwan and Ukraine to North Korea. It also highlighted cooperation on peaceful nuclear technologies and financial matters.

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, head of the DDF, emphasized the need for cautious assessment of such events, warning that they might be fraudulent and exploited for “profit, power, fame, social recognition, or other personal interest.”

“The United States still thinks in terms of the Cold War and is guided by the logic of bloc confrontation, putting the security of ‘narrow groups’ above regional security and stability, which creates a security threat for all countries in the region,” the statement read. “The U.S. must abandon this behavior.”

Washington views China as its primary competitor and Russia as its biggest state threat. The U.S. administration has criticized both nations’ leaders, with President Biden referring to Xi as a “dictator” and Putin as a “killer” and a “crazy SOB.” Both Beijing and Moscow have condemned Biden’s remarks.

Putin’s visit, his first foreign trip since starting a new six-year term, underscores the importance of his relationship with Xi. The joint statement also indicated plans to enhance military cooperation and defense sector collaboration, purportedly to improve regional and global security.

The U.S. State Department responded with Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel saying, “China cannot have its cake and eat it too” by supporting Moscow while seeking better relations with Europe. Patel called Beijing’s assistance in rebuilding Russia’s defense industrial base “deeply problematic.”

Following severe Western sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine war, Putin has increasingly turned towards China, which has become Russia’s primary ally and top buyer of crude oil. Despite this, some Russian elites are concerned about the country’s growing dependency on China, reminiscent of the 1969 border conflict between the Soviet Union and China.

During the visit, Xi and Putin agreed that a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis was essential. Putin expressed gratitude to China for its efforts to mediate the conflict and noted that he would brief Xi on the current situation in Ukraine.

Describing his talks with Xi as “warm and comradely,” Putin highlighted various sectors where the two nations are strengthening ties, including nuclear energy, food supplies, and Chinese car manufacturing in Russia.

Putin’s delegation notably lacked Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller, who was in talks with Iranian officials. The visit will also feature a gala celebrating 75 years since the Soviet Union recognized the People’s Republic of China, established by Mao Zedong in 1949.

It remains unclear if Putin will make additional stops in Asia during this trip.

Aid trucks begin deliveries via U.S.-built pier in Gaza

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Aid trucks begin deliveries via U.S.-built pier in Gaza

GAZA. Aid trucks commenced deliveries through a newly constructed U.S.-built pier on Friday in response to mounting international pressure to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.S. Central Command announced that trucks carrying humanitarian supplies began moving ashore at 9 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).

This temporary floating pier, pre-assembled by the U.S. military at the Israeli port of Ashdod, was moved into position on Gaza’s coast earlier this week. Despite the military’s involvement in constructing the pier, U.S. troops did not go ashore, according to Centcom.

“This is part of an ongoing, multinational effort,” stated the U.S. Central Command, noting that the aid includes commodities donated by various countries and humanitarian organizations.

The UK confirmed the delivery of its first aid shipment via this new route. Concurrently, the United Nations is finalizing plans to distribute aid through the pier, though it maintains that land convoys remain the “most viable, effective and efficient” method for aid delivery into Gaza.

“To stave off the horrors of famine, we must use the fastest and most obvious route to reach the people of Gaza – and for that, we need access by land now,” emphasized deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.

Aid supplies unloaded at the pier will undergo Israeli security checks in Cyprus before reaching Gaza and will face additional checkpoints upon arrival, as confirmed by U.S. administration officials.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened significantly following an Israeli campaign launched last year in response to Hamas-led attacks on October 7. With hundreds of thousands already displaced, the latest upheaval has exacerbated the need for aid as people continue to evacuate in anticipation of further Israeli assaults.

Israel has pledged to increase aid efforts, reporting that 365 aid trucks entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossing points on Thursday, delivering essential supplies like flour and fuel. Hundreds of tents have also been dispatched for those evacuated to the Al-Mawasi area, designated as a humanitarian zone by Israel.

Efforts have also been made to streamline aid delivery through new inspection routes in the occupied West Bank at the Tarqumiyah and Beitunia crossing points. However, disruptions persist due to attacks by Israeli settlers protesting the aid shipments.

“The IDF will continue its efforts to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip by land, air, and sea, in accordance with international law,” stated the Israeli military.

While Israel has recently initiated aid deliveries through a new point near the Erez crossing in northern Gaza, supplies via the southern crossings of Rafah and Kerem Shalom remain disrupted due to Israeli control over the Gaza side of Rafah crossing.

The international community continues to call on Israel to do more to facilitate aid into Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis remains dire.

Suspek sa babaeng pinatay at isinilid sa ice cooler, arestado

Arman B. Cambe
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Suspek sa babaeng pinatay at isinilid sa ice cooler, arestado

CAVITE CITY. Naaresto na ng Trece Martires City Police ang isang mister na suspek sa brutal na pagpatay sa isang babae na isinilid sa ice cooler sa Cavite. Sa isinagawang follow-up operation kahapon, nahuli ang suspek sa kanyang pinagtataguan sa Pasay City.

Wala pang 24 oras matapos matagpuan ang bangkay ng biktimang si Mari Joy Singayan, 26-anyos, residente ng Golden Horizon Villas, Brgy. Hugo Perez, Trece Martires City, ay agad na nahuli ang suspek na si alyas “Wilson”.

Ayon sa pulisya, nagtungo ang biktima sa bahay ng suspek upang singilin ito ng pagkakautang na P50,000. Sa kanilang pagtatalo, sinakal ng suspek ang biktima gamit ang lubid at isinilid ang bangkay nito sa isang malaking ice cooler bago tumakas.

Ayon sa mga salaysay ng misis ng suspek, bandang 4:45 ng hapon nang tumawag ang kanyang mister at inamin ang krimen. Sinabi rin ng suspek kung saan niya inilagay ang bangkay ni Singayan. Agad na nag-report ang misis sa kanilang barangay na siya namang tumawag sa pulisya. Narekober ang katawan ng biktima sa loob ng ice cooler.

Patuloy ang imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad upang matukoy ang iba pang detalye ng krimen.

Israel defends actions in Gaza, denies genocide charges at ICJ

Venus L Peñaflor
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Israel defends actions in Gaza, denies genocide charges at ICJ

THE HAGUE, Netherlands. Israel vehemently denied charges of genocide on Friday, asserting before the United Nations’ top court that it is taking extensive measures to protect civilians amid its military operations in Gaza. The statement came as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded its third round of hearings on emergency measures requested by South Africa, which claims that Israel’s incursion in the southern city of Rafah endangers the “very survival of Palestinians in Gaza” and seeks an immediate cease-fire.

Tamar Kaplan-Tourgeman, a member of Israel’s legal team, defended the nation’s actions, emphasizing the allowance of fuel and medical supplies into the embattled enclave. “Israel takes extraordinary measures in order to minimize the harm to civilians in Gaza,” she told the court.

During Kaplan-Tourgeman’s closing remarks, a protester interrupted, shouting “Liars.” The hearing was briefly paused as security escorted the woman from the gallery.

South Africa, in its statements on Thursday, highlighted the severity of the situation in Gaza, describing it as having reached “a new and horrific stage” and urging the ICJ to mandate a cessation of Israeli military actions. This session marked the third set of hearings on South Africa’s emergency measures since it filed the genocide case in late 2023.

South Africa’s recent request reiterates concerns that Israel’s military actions in Rafah pose an existential threat to Palestinians in Gaza. In a January ruling, the ICJ ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide, though it did not mandate an end to military operations. Judges are now deliberating on the latest request, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.

The ICJ has the authority to order cease-fires and other measures, but lacks enforcement power. Historical precedence shows that compliance can be an issue; a 2022 ICJ order demanding Russia halt its invasion of Ukraine remains unfulfilled.

The conflict, sparked by a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, has led to extensive casualties. Palestinian militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages in the initial attack. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, though this figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.

South Africa initiated the legal proceedings in December 2023, aligning the campaign with its national history and values. The African National Congress, South Africa’s ruling party, has frequently compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to its own apartheid history, which ended in 1994.

Jema Galanza: Consistency matters more than career achievements

DC Alviar
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Jema Galanza: Consistency matters more than career achievements

This is far from the Creamline Cool Smashers game. What you see is not us, says Jema Galanza. The Cool Smashers land on the fourth and last spot to qualify in the next round after the elims of the Premier Volleyball League in its new edition in 2024. It is a cliffhanger semifinal slot, completing the semis cast only to taste the bitterness of another defeat. At the crucial stage of the tournament, Galanza is already doing a Darna.

She understands that pressure points are needed to stop the Pink bleeding. The one wearing Michael Jordan’s jersey number goes out one night to bleed for 23 points and exactly the same production for another. She can still glance at a tiny hole, where Creamline can cross into the best-of-three championship series. Never mind reclaiming the title. Being in the finals is enough.

Still no reliable, steady hands in sight that would set the perfect ball for the spikers to hit, because long-time Best Setter Jia Morado-De Guzman has grabbed a once-in-a-lifetime offer abroad. MVPs Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos can hardly don their usual high gears as they are heavily scouted out by their adversaries. Even though Galanza was also MVP back in 2019, they have to brave the toughest challenge of the present, knowing that their competitors come well prepared. They come with high stakes and an equally high-level competition.

Galanza even notes that any Cool Smasher plays in fear because everyone wants to bring them down. Everyone looks up to them and, of course, “binabato ang mabunga.”

This favorite daughter of Laguna and product of San Pedro Relocation Center National High School and Adamson University seriously takes advantage of every opportunity given to her to ably protect Creamline from a quick meltdown. She fully trusts herself that she still can unleash something more. She totally trusts her teammates that they still can change things for the better and can learn from the battles they both won and lost (“salo-salo manalo, matalo”). Above all, she gives due weight to the words of Coach Sherwin Meneses, who never loses confidence in them: “I have a better view that you still can do it.” Can the defending champs even make razor-sharp progress and avoid one more loss, while their foes have already positioned better on the ramp?

They never lose again. The Choco Mucho Flying Titans simply fail to deliver the goods and extend the titular showdown into Game 3. It is because Galanza’s hopes and dreams never fail. There you go. Creamline bags its 4-peat and eight title overall in the pro league.

According to Galanza, there are also those who hope that she will model consistency, including her younger sister Mafe, who has become a champion twice after being added to the not-so-deep-anymore Creamline roster since the last conference.

In life, not just in Galanza sisters’ favorite sport, consistency matters. It is difficult to translate this into one word in the Filipino language. “Kabuuan?” Nope. “Hindi pabago-bago?” Not really.

But Jema Galanza tries her best to be the most consistent among her teammates in terms of playing offensively and defensively. Her attack mode is massive, and her thousand moves cannot be easily predicted by foes stationed near or far from the net. She tallies more receives and digs than previous conferences. She still makes crucial blocks. She is now an eight-time champion and five-time Best Spiker awardee, aside from getting the coveted PVL Finals MVP plum. And most importantly, she is the healthiest among Coach Sherwin’s starting unit.

If Valdez is Creamline’s heart and soul, Galanza is the staying power of their defense, the heavy-duty generator of their offense and, well, magical moments for both the team and the legion of fans. It is because, to paraphrase Jordan, she relaxes and never thinks about what is at stake. Jema Galanza just thinks about the volleyball game.

This is special for those who follow the career of the former Queen Falcon. Why? Now that volleyball is the Next Big Thing – assuming it is not the most popular sport in the Philippines yet – the sport loves Galanza back.

‘Yun mindset ng pagiging champion kasi ang hirap maging consistent, ang hirap maging champion every conference pero makikita niyo sa amin, bawat isa gusto namin nananalo, gusto namin makuha ang season na ito,” Galanza said after they won Game 1. Indeed, her consistency is the key.

Filipino activists avoid clash with Chinese ships near disputed shoal

Venus L Peñaflor
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Filipino activists avoid clash with Chinese ships near disputed shoal

MANILA. Approximately 100 Filipino activists aboard wooden boats decided against sailing closer to the fiercely contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Thursday. The decision was made to avoid a confrontation with dozens of Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships guarding the area.

Accompanied by journalists on four boats, the activists instead chose to distribute food packs and fuel to Filipino fishermen about 58 nautical miles (107 kilometers) southeast of Scarborough Shoal before heading back home. Emman Hizon and other organizers confirmed this plan.

Tensions have been high at Scarborough Shoal and the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, with Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships engaged in increasingly hostile faceoffs since last year. Chinese ships have used powerful water cannons, blocking tactics, and other dangerous maneuvers, resulting in minor collisions and injuries to Filipino navy personnel, straining diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The United States has reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines, its longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces, ships, or aircraft come under armed attack in the region, including the busy South China Sea. This has raised concerns that the territorial disputes could escalate into a conflict involving Washington.

The activists and fishing community leaders, part of a nongovernmental coalition called Atin Ito (Tagalog for “This is Ours”), provided aid to Filipino fishermen and floated symbolic territorial buoys on their way to the outskirts of Scarborough Shoal to assert Philippine sovereign rights over the atoll. However, two Chinese coast guard ships began shadowing them on Wednesday night, according to Hizon and the Philippine coast guard.

Despite the Chinese blockade of at least 46 ships in the area, a group of 10 activists managed to distribute food and fuel to Filipino fishermen closer to the atoll. “We managed to breach their illegal blockade, reaching the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc to support our fishers with essential supplies,” said Rafaela David, an activist leader who led the voyage to the disputed waters. “Mission accomplished.”

The Philippine coast guard deployed three patrol ships and a light plane on Wednesday to monitor the activists, who had set off from western Zambales province. Dozens of journalists joined the three-day voyage.

In December, the group attempted an expedition to another disputed shoal but cut the trip short after being tailed by a Chinese ship.

China effectively seized Scarborough Shoal, a triangle-shaped atoll with a vast fishing lagoon, by surrounding it with its coast guard ships following a tense 2012 standoff with Philippine government ships. In response, the Philippine government brought the territorial disputes to international arbitration in 2013 and largely won. A tribunal in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s expansive claims based on historical grounds were invalid under the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The ruling declared Scarborough Shoal a traditional fishing area for Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese fishermen, but China refused to join the arbitration, rejected the ruling, and continues to defy it.

Two weeks ago, Chinese coast guard and suspected militia ships used water cannons on Philippine coast guard and fisheries ships patrolling Scarborough Shoal, damaging both ships. The Philippines condemned the Chinese coast guard’s actions, which took place within Manila’s internationally recognized exclusive economic zone. The Chinese coast guard claimed it took “necessary measures” after the Philippine ships “violated China’s sovereignty.”

Aside from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also involved in long-standing territorial disputes in the region. Indonesia has similarly had skirmishes with Chinese vessels in resource-rich waters stretching from its Natuna islands to the margins of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. The Indonesian navy has previously fired warning shots and seized Chinese fishing boats it accused of encroaching into Indonesian waters.

Absolute divorce bill, aprubado na sa ikalawang pagbasa ng kamara

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Absolute divorce bill, aprubado na sa ikalawang pagbasa ng kamara

MAYNILA. Inaprubahan na sa ikalawang pagbasa ng Kamara ang Absolute Divorce Bill nitong Miyerkules ng gabi.

Sa pamamagitan ng viva voce voting, pinagtibay ang House Bill (HB) 9349 o Absolute Divorce Act. Kabilang sa mga grounds para ipatupad ang absolute divorce ay ang psychological incapacity, marital abuse, kapag ang isa sa mga mag-asawa ay sumailalim sa surgery para magpalit ng kasarian, pagkakahiwalay ng 5 taon, pisikal na pang-aabuso, pagtataksil, homosexuality, at iba pa.

Sa plenaryo, kinuwestiyon ni Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre kung ang absolute divorce ay para sa mag-asawang hindi na masayang nagsasama sa kabila ng kanilang kasal. Tugon naman ni Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman, na hindi lamang ito para sa mga hindi masayang pagsasama kundi maging sa mga toxic na relasyon at puno ng pighating sitwasyon.

Binigyang-diin ni Lagman, may-akda ng panukala, na ang absolute divorce ay “pro-poor woman” kung saan sa ilalim ng panukalang batas ay may mandato ang hukom na desisyunan ang petisyon ng diborsiyo sa loob ng isang taon matapos mag-expire ang 60 araw na ‘cooling off period’.

U.S. completes Gaza Strip floating pier project, aid to flow soon despite conflict

Venus L Peñaflor
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U.S. completes Gaza Strip floating pier project, aid to flow soon despite conflict

WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. military has successfully completed the installation of a floating pier off the Gaza Strip, a crucial step towards delivering humanitarian aid to the besieged region. This development comes after seven months of intense fighting in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The final construction phase was completed overnight, allowing aid to soon flow into Gaza. This initiative follows an order from U.S. President Joe Biden over two months ago, aimed at addressing the dire needs of Palestinians facing starvation due to disrupted food and supply chains. Recently, Israel seized the key Rafah border crossing, intensifying the urgency for alternative aid routes.

Despite logistical and security challenges, the new maritime route is expected to significantly enhance aid delivery to Gaza. However, aid agencies emphasize that this method is not a replacement for more cost-effective land-based deliveries, which they argue are more sustainable in the long term. Aid shipments will be offloaded at a port facility constructed by the Israelis near Gaza City, from where they will be distributed by various aid groups.

The conflict has caused massive displacement, with U.N. officials reporting that 600,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Gaza, primarily from the Rafah area. Additionally, 100,000 civilians have fled from northern Gaza as Israeli military operations resume.

Pentagon officials have assured that the new aid distribution site is currently secure, though they acknowledge the potential for disruptions due to ongoing hostilities. The site has already faced mortar attacks during its construction, and Hamas has issued threats against any foreign forces in Gaza.

Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander at U.S. Central Command, emphasized the importance of security, stating, “The protection of U.S. forces participating is a top priority. We are confident in the ability of this security arrangement to protect those involved.”

The floating pier was anchored at 7:40 a.m. local time on Thursday, with the U.S. Central Command highlighting that no American forces entered Gaza during the operation. Aid trucks are expected to start moving ashore in the coming days, coordinated by the United Nations.

Israeli forces will handle security on the ground, supported by two U.S. Navy warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Paul Ignatius. These destroyers are equipped to protect American and allied personnel.

Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, confirmed the completion of the pier, adding, “We have been working for months on full cooperation with the U.S. military on this project, facilitating it, supporting it in any way possible.”

Despite this progress, aid agencies warn that the current measures are insufficient to prevent a humanitarian crisis. Scott Paul from Oxfam criticized the reliance on the sea route, stating, “It is a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist,” advocating for the opening of land corridors to fully meet the aid demands.

The first aid shipment, carrying 475 pallets of food, has already departed from Cyprus and will be transferred to Gaza via the newly established sea route. This operation, costing an estimated $320 million, is expected to gradually scale up, starting with 90 truckloads of aid per day.

As humanitarian efforts ramp up, the international community watches closely, hoping that this new initiative will bring much-needed relief to the people of Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict.

Suspect charged with attempted murder of Slovak PM Fico

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Suspect charged with attempted murder of Slovak PM Fico

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico after the politician was seriously injured in a shooting attack.

The suspect, who has not been officially named, has been widely identified by Slovak reports as a 71-year-old man from the town of Levice. Reports indicate he could face up to life in prison.

Mr. Fico, 59, is in serious but stable condition after being shot several times in what colleagues have described as a politically motivated attack.

At a press conference on Thursday, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated that the suspect acted alone and had previously participated in anti-government protests. “This is a lone wolf whose actions were accelerated after the presidential election since he was dissatisfied with its outcome,” Estok said.

Peter Pellegrini, a populist and ally of Robert Fico, won the April election.

Shot Five Times at Close Range

In broad daylight on Wednesday, Fico, surrounded by a crowd of supporters, was shot at close range. The gunman fired five times, hitting the prime minister in the stomach and arm.

The attack caught Fico’s security detail completely by surprise. Footage showed several officers bundling the wounded PM into a car and driving away at high speed, while others detained the suspect.

Fico was rushed to a nearby hospital in an air ambulance with life-threatening injuries. He was later transferred to another facility in Banska Bystrica, east of Handlova, where surgeons and trauma teams worked through the night to stabilize him.

On Thursday, the hospital director told a news conference that Fico’s condition was stable but “truly very serious,” and he had been moved to an intensive care unit.

Pellegrini later said he had visited Fico, who had been able to speak a few sentences. “The situation is very critical and we have to give him a lot of energy and be positive,” Pellegrini said.

Politically Motivated Attack

Local reports describe the suspect as a writer and political activist. A video being widely circulated on Slovak media purports to feature him, wherein the man expresses disagreement with government policy and its stance towards state media. The BBC has not verified if the person in the video is the perpetrator detained at the scene or the circumstances under which it was filmed.

Several Slovak politicians called the shooting an “attack on democracy.” On Thursday, outgoing President Zuzana Caputova appealed for calm and invited all party leaders to a meeting to discuss political tension.

Meanwhile, President-elect Peter Pellegrini called on all parties to suspend campaigning before the European Parliament elections scheduled for early June.

Fico is a divisive figure at home for his calls to end military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. The shooting occurred on the day parliament began discussing the government’s proposal to abolish Slovakia’s public broadcaster, RTVS.

Thousands of Slovaks have protested against the proposed reform of the public broadcaster in recent weeks. However, a planned opposition-led demonstration was called off on Wednesday as news of the shooting emerged.

In an interview with the BBC, Deputy Prime Minister Taraba blamed “false narratives” by opposition parties in Slovakia for the shooting. “Our prime minister several times mentioned in the past that he was afraid that this would happen,” Taraba said in another interview with the BBC’s World Tonight programme.

Interior Minister Estok also accused the media of contributing to the climate that led to the 59-year-old’s shooting, telling a news conference: “Many of you were those who were sowing this hatred.” Pavol Strba, a foreign affairs correspondent for the Slovakian newspaper Dennik N, told the BBC News Channel that “the current governing coalition has painted targets on the heads of journalists, members of NGOs, etc.” He also mentioned, “I have some information that some of the newsrooms in Slovakia are being patrolled by police right now.”

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