HANDLOVA, Slovakia, May 15 – Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico sustained life-threatening injuries in an attempted assassination on Wednesday, announced the government office. The shooter, reportedly a 71-year-old man, left Fico severely wounded, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The incident, occurring during a government meeting in Handlova, shocked the nation, known for its political stability. Fico, 59, was rushed to a hospital in Handlova and later airlifted to Banska Bystrica for urgent treatment, owing to the severity of his condition.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing three or four shots as Fico greeted a crowd outside a building. Police quickly apprehended the assailant, identified as a 71-year-old man. The shooter’s son, speaking to Aktuality.sk, claimed his father possessed a legal gun license but expressed ignorance about his intentions.
The shooting prompted widespread condemnation both domestically and internationally. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were among the leaders who denounced the attack, calling for unity and denouncing violence in politics. “Utterly shocked by today’s brutal attack on Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, which I condemn in strongest possible terms. I wish him lot of strength in this critical moment and early recovery. My thoughts are also with his family and close ones”, said Caputova.
In light of the incident, Slovakia’s largest opposition party Progressive Slovakia canceled a planned protest, urging politicians to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions.
Fico, a veteran leader who has served as prime minister four times, has faced criticism for his stance on issues like the Ukraine war and reforms to criminal law and media regulations. While Slovakia awaits Fico’s recovery, a deputy prime minister will assume his duties per Slovak law.
