Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, wounded by several bullets, “risks losing his life”. The attack occurred immediately after a government meeting in Handlova, near Bratislava. According to Slovak media, the prime minister was shot at least three to four times while greeting the crowd in front of a municipal cultural center. Fico was rushed to the hospital and is in the operating room for surgery. As stated on the Slovak Prime Minister's Facebook page, Fico “was transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, as transport to Bratislava would take too long due to the need for urgent intervention. The next few hours will decide.” According to what GuardianFico was conscious when he was taken away.
The arrest
The attacker, who, according to initial reconstructions, was hiding among the crowd, was stopped by passers-by and the police and arrested. The reaction of Slovak President Zuzana Caputova was immediate, calling the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico “brutal and merciless”, wishing him a speedy recovery.
Political and institutional reactions: the EU on alert
Faced with the news of the attack, the European institutions showed solidarity with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen who wrote in X: “I strongly condemn the cowardly attack against Prime Minister Robert Fico. Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.” “I am shocked by the horrific attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Handlova. On behalf of the European Parliament, I condemn this act of violence. My thoughts are with him and his family at this difficult time”, comments the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola.
Also speaking is the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who – speaking in Transatlantico in the House after the question time – commented: “It’s worrying, there should be no violence in Europe. We are close to Fico. We need to understand what it is. It's too early to comment, we don't know if it was a terrorist act, if it was a deranged person.” Among the reactions is also that of Viktor Orbán who writes on X: “I was deeply shocked by the horrific attack on my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and a speedy recovery!
Who is Robert Fico
The pro-Russian Robert Fico is among the most controversial figures in the country, especially because of his sympathies for Russian President Vladimir Putin, manifested through his strong opposition to sending weapons to Ukraine and his election promise to block any sanctions. against Fly. Fico first entered parliament in 1992 from the ranks of SdI, a party born from the former Slovak Communist Party. Seven years later, he gave life to his political creature, the Smer-D, with which he won the last elections in October 2023 with more than 23% of the votes.
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