Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico’s life is in danger after a gun attack. As the government in Bratislava announced on Fico’s Facebook page on Wednesday, he was hit by several shots. The government spoke of an “assassination attack.” Accordingly, the shooting occurred after a cabinet meeting in Handlova.
According to the government, Fico was flown by helicopter to the capital Bratislava. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova condemned the “brutal and ruthless attack.”
Politicians condemn attack on Robert Fico
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned the “despicable attack. Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our greatest common good,” she wrote on the online service X. “Nothing can ever justify violence or attacks like this,” explained EU Council President Charles Michel.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he was “deeply shocked by the attack on my friend” Fico. Like Orban, Fico is also considered Russia-friendly. When the populist became head of government in October 2023, he stopped Slovakia’s military aid to Kiev and questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty. Orban blocked crucial aid for Ukraine within the EU for months.
Fico was head of the Slovakian government from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018. In 2018 he had to resign after the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancé. Kuciak had researched connections between the Italian mafia and Fico’s ruling party.
Source: Stern
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