BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is recovering after being shot in an assassination attempt on Wednesday. Initially in critical condition, Fico is now stable and no longer in a life-threatening situation, according to government officials.
The 59-year-old prime minister was shot five times as he exited a government meeting in Handlova. “I was very shocked … fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive … he’s not in a life-threatening situation at this moment,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Minister Tomas Taraba to the BBC’s Newshour.
One bullet passed through Fico’s stomach and another hit a joint. After undergoing surgery in Banska Bystrica, he was reported to be stable. Defence Minister Robert Kalinak detailed that Fico suffered “serious polytrauma” from multiple gunshot wounds.
Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok confirmed the political motivation behind the attack, which occurred soon after an April presidential election won by Fico’s ally, Peter Pellegrini. The shooter, identified as a 71-year-old man, stunned the nation with his actions, prompting widespread condemnation.
The shooting has shocked Slovakia, a NATO and EU member with little history of political violence. Leaders worldwide, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden, have expressed their outrage and condemnation.
“This assassination (attempt) was politically motivated and the perpetrator’s decision was born closely after the presidential election,” Sutaj Estok said.
Fico, who returned to power last October, has shifted policies rapidly, attracting both domestic and international criticism. His government has scaled back support for Ukraine, sought to weaken corruption punishments, and is overhauling the RTVS public broadcaster amid calls to protect media freedom.
Following the attack, Fico was rushed to a local hospital before being airlifted to Banska Bystrica due to the severity of his condition. A Reuters witness reported hearing shots as Fico exited a building to greet a crowd. Police quickly apprehended the shooter.
The suspect, reportedly a former security guard and author, held a legal gun license. His son expressed disbelief over his father’s actions.
The Slovak opposition, including the Progressive Slovakia party, has called for restraint to prevent further escalation of tensions. Parliament suspended its sessions indefinitely after the incident.
Fico, a long-standing figure in Slovak politics, has been a polarizing leader, often shifting between pro-European and nationalistic stances. He was previously forced to resign in 2018 amid mass protests following the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak, which highlighted deep societal divisions.
President Zuzana Caputova and international leaders have urged for calm and unity in the wake of the attack, emphasizing the need for stability and peace in Slovakia during this tumultuous time.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
