Slovakia’s pro-Russian prime minister is in danger after being shot

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s life is in danger after he was wounded in multiple gunshots following a political incident on Wednesday afternoon.

According to reports, the populist, pro-Russian leader, 59, was hit in the stomach after being shot four times outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, about 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the leader was meeting with supporters on TA3, a Slovakian television station. A suspect had been arrested, the country’s president said in a televised statement.

A message posted on Fico’s Facebook account said the leader had been “shot several times and is currently in mortal danger”.

The announcement said he would be transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica, 29 kilometers from Handlova, as it would take a long time to reach Bratislava due to the need for acute intervention, AP writes.

“The next few hours are crucial,” the announcement said.

Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival of Fico, said in a televised statement: “The physical attack on the prime minister is first and foremost an attack on a person, but also an attack on democracy.” Any violence is unacceptable.”

President-elect Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Fico, described the murder as “an unprecedented threat to Slovak democracy”. If we express other political opinions with guns in the squares and not in the polling stations, we risk everything we have built together in the 31 years of Slovak sovereignty.”

There were reactions from all over Europe, with some calling it an assassination attempt on the leader of the NATO member state, although no motive for the shooting has yet been revealed.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg posted on the social media platform X that he was “shocked and appalled by the shooting”.

The shooting in Slovakia occurred three weeks before the crucial European Parliament elections, in which populist and far-right parties in the 27-nation bloc appear to be heading for victory.

Deputy Speaker Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of the Slovak parliament and postponed the meeting until further notice, the 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 reform public broadcasting, which they say would give the government full control over public radio and television.

Fico, a third-term prime minister, and his leftist Smer party won Slovakia’s parliamentary elections on September 30, celebrating a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian, anti-American message.

Critics feared that Slovakia under Fico would abandon the country’s pro-Western course and follow the example of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Thousands of people have repeatedly gathered in the capital and across Slovakia to protest against Fico’s policies.

Leading politicians from all over Europe condemned the political violence.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she described as a “shameful attack”.

“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” said von der Leyen in a post on X.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the incident as “shocking” and added: “I wish the Prime Minister a speedy recovery. We cannot tolerate violence, there is no place for it in society.”

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the social network X: “Shocking news from Slovakia.” Robert, my thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.”/The Geopost/