The Slovak Interior Minister said that the first elements of the investigation show that the attempted assassination of the Slovak Prime Minister was clearly politically motivated.
Doctors ‘fight for life’ of Slovak Prime Minister
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák said that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is still undergoing surgery and is in “extraordinarily serious” condition.
Mr Kaliňák, speaking at a press conference outside the Banská Bystrica hospital, said doctors “struggled for life” of Mr. Fico, who suffered “serious multiple trauma after several gunshots”.
“We do not have good news at the moment and we are putting our hope in the hands of the specialist doctors at the hospital.
Fico’s state of health “is serious, his situation is bad“, he added.
Mr. Kaliňák indicated that Mr. Fico had been operated on for three and a half hours and that more information would be available later.
The Slovak Interior Minister, for his part, declared that the first elements of the investigation show that the attempted assassination of the Slovak Prime Minister was clearly politically motivated.
Matus Sutaj Estok spoke to journalists on Wednesday evening at the Banska Bystrica hospital, where Prime Minister Robert Fico is being treated.
"There is no doubt about it," added Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák.
Mr Kaliňák said doctors were fighting for Mr Fico’s life after he was shot several times following a political event.
Shock wave in Slovak and European politics
According to Slovak television channel TA3, Mr Fico, 59, was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the head of government met his supporters. A suspect has been arrested.
The police cordoned off the scene and Mr Fico was taken to Banska Bystrica hospital.
The shootings in Slovakia come three weeks before crucial European Parliament elections, in which the 27-nation bloc’s populist and hard-right parties appear poised to make gains.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of Parliament and adjourned it until further notice, Slovak news agency TASR reported.
Slovakia’s main opposition parties, Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity, have canceled a planned protest against a controversial government plan to overhaul public broadcasting that they say would give the government full control of public radio and television .
They say the move would give the government full control of public radio and television.
“We absolutely and strongly condemn the violence and shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico today.“, said Michal Simecka, leader of the Slovak Progressive Party. “At the same time, we call on all politicians to refrain from any expression and any action that could contribute to further increasing tension.”
President Zuzana Caputova condemned the “brutal and merciless” attack on the prime minister.
“I’m shocked,” Ms. Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength at this critical moment and a speedy recovery after this attack”.
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The political violence has been condemned by leaders across Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she called a “despicable attack.”
“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good“said Ms von der Leyen in a message published on X.
The leaders of Latvia and Estonia were also quick to condemn the political violence.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the social media network X: “Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.“
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