Summary
We’re closing this blog now but will be back to bring you any breaking news. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the latest developments:
Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot five times on Wednesday outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlová while meeting supporters, initially leaving him in critical condition.
There has been no official announcement about his condition but the prime minister “is expected to survive” after surgery, his deputy prime minister said. Tomáš Taraba told the BBC Fico was no longer in a life-threatening situation: “Fortunately as far as I know the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.
Taraba said Fico was “heavily injured”. He added: “One bullet went thought the stomach and the second one hit the joint – immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation.” News outlet Aktuality.sk cited an unnamed source saying Fico was out of surgery and in stable condition.
Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, said initial information “clearly points to a political motivation” after Slovakia’s presidential election, referring to the April election won by a Fico ally, Peter Pellegrini.
The suspect is a 71-year-old man, according to local media reports. Slovak news media reported the shooter was a former security guard at a shopping mall as well as the author of three books of poetry and the founder of a literary society.
A video posted online appeared to show the alleged shooter in detention saying that he did not agree with the government’s policies, particularly what he described as the “liquidation” of the media.
News outlet Aktuality.sk cited his son as saying his father was the legal holder of a gun licence.
The outgoing president, Zuzana Čaputová, a political rival of Fico, described the violence as “unacceptable” in a televised statement. “The hateful rhetoric we’ve been witnessing in society leads to hateful actions,” she added. “Please, let’s stop it.”
Global leaders including Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen and Vladimir Putin condemned the attack on Fico. The US president said he was “alarmed” by the attack. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, a close ally, said he was “deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend”. Putin said in a telegram sent to Čaputová: “I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to survive this difficult situation.”
Slovakia’s interior minister Matúš Šutaj-Eštok has said the suspected shooter “clearly” had a political motivation linked to the April election, in which Fico ally Peter Pellegrini triumphed over the liberal, pro-western opposition candidate Ivan Korčok.
Pellegrini’s victory cemented Fico’s grip on power by giving him and his allies control of major strategic posts. Here’s a bit more from our coverage at the time:
Pellegrini, 48, who favours a strong role for the state, heads the leftwing Hlas (Voice) party, which finished third in the vote and joined a governing coalition with Fico and the ultranationalist Slovak National party.
Critics worry Slovakia under Fico will abandon its pro-western course and follow Hungary’s direction under its populist prime minister, Viktor Orbán.
The new government immediately halted any arms deliveries to Ukraine. Thousands have taken to the streets across Slovakia recently to rally against Fico’s pro-Russian and other policies, including plans to amend the penal code and take control of the public media.
Korčok was critical of the government’s moves, which protesters fear could undermine the rule of law, while Pellegrini backed the new government and did not question its policies.
Prior to the vote, Pellegrini told the AFP news agency that the European Union and Nato were “divided between those who are in favour of the continuation of the war [between Russia and Ukraine] at all costs, and those who demand the start of peace negotiations”.
