Live updates: Slovakian Prime Minister in ‘life-threatening’ condition after shooting
Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot and seriously injured Wednesday in what the government called an assassination.
a post on the prime minister’s official and verified Facebook page said that Mr. Fico was in a “life-threatening condition” after suffering “multiple” gunshot wounds.
“The next few hours will decide,” the post said.
The attack occurred in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia. Mr. Fico, a veteran politician, held a government meeting and then another The press conference lasted nearly an hour. Local media reported he was shot outside the venue while greeting supporters.
The exact nature of Mr. Fico’s injuries was not immediately known. There was no immediate comment from police.
Images from the scene published by Reuters news agency show what appear to be members of Mr. Fico’s security team running around in a black sedan. Other photos showed a handcuffed person on the ground at the scene.
Slovak President Zuzana Caputova, whose stance was largely ceremonial, condemned what she described as “a brutal and reckless attack.”
“I am shocked,” she wrote in a Facebook message. “I wish Robert Fico every strength during this critical time to recover from the attack.”
Ms. Caputova, whose term ends in Juneused his limited powers to counter Mr. Fico’s tilt toward Russia and his efforts to limit the judiciary’s ability to prosecute corruption.
Mr. Fico has aligned himself with Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, to oppose aid to Ukraine and challenge mainstream views within the European Union.
On Wednesday, Mr. Orban was quick to send well wishes to Mr. Fico, whom he called “my friend.”
“We pray for his health and quick recovery,” Mr. Orban write on social networks.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, who has previously confronted Mr. Fico, said she strongly condemned the “cowardly attack.”
“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” she said. write on social networks.
Mr. Fico, person ended the previous prime minister’s term by resigning in 2018 amid allegations of corruption, also followed Mr. Orban in trying to erode the independence of his country’s judiciary and portraying Ukraine’s supporters as agents. disloyal mistake of the United States.
Mr. Fico returned to power after a while general election in Septemberrevived a political career that many considered quitting amid massive street protests following the murder of an investigative journalist investigating government corruption.
According to him, since coming to power, Mr. Fico has sought to weaken the independence of media agencies. an open letter written by Reporters Without Borders and other press freedom groups, as his nominally left-wing Smer party moves increasingly to the right on immigration and cultural issues.
In October, Mr. Fico said he would pause all military aid to Ukraine, but said it would continue non-military aid, which would make Slovakia the first among countries sending weapons to Kiev since the war broke out announced it would stop. .
