Displaying items by tag: Robert Fico

Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a stable but serious condition after being shot multiple times on Wednesday. Fico, 59, underwent five hours of surgery at a hospital in Banska Bystrica. The hospital director confirmed his condition remains grave. He was attacked in Handlova during a meeting, and a suspect was detained at the scene. The interior minister described the incident as a politically motivated assassination attempt. Fico, a divisive figure known for opposing military aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, was shot at close range, sustaining injuries to his stomach and arm. The deputy prime minister indicated that Fico’s surgery went well, and he is currently not in a life-threatening condition. The shooting has been widely condemned as an attack on democracy. The suspect, reportedly a 71-year-old writer and political activist, allegedly disagreed with government policies. The incident coincided with parliamentary discussions on abolishing Slovakia's public broadcaster RTVS. The state security council and government are scheduled to meet following the attack.

In December 2022, Slovakia’s former prime minister Robert Fico was facing numerous criminal charges which, if proven, would have seen the populist firebrand put behind bars. However, the charges were dropped, and in an election which observers say was fuelled by hate speech and pro-Kremlin conspiracy theories, he was returned to power last September. His government’s aggressive stance towards the LGBTQ+ community and other minorities has made many of those groups fearful of what the future holds. For this and other reasons, there is a considerable ‘brain drain’, especially of young people, to the Czech Republic. Also, over the border, Ukrainians are conscious of his promise to block EU sanctions against Russia and veto its package of military support for Kyiv.