We are now closing this blog but you can read our report on the latest on Robert Fico’s condition and what we know about the suspect in the case here.
Summary of the day
Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, is in a stable condition but “not out of the woods yet”, officials have said.
Slovak police charged a man with attempted murder of Fico.
Matúš Šutaj Eštok, the interior minister, described the suspect in the shooting as a man who had acted alone and who had participated in anti-government protests.
Robert Kaliňák, the deputy prime minister and defence minister, said that Fico was in a stable condition but that it was too early to say the outlook was positive. “He’s still not out of the woods yet,” he said.
Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia’s president-elect, said that he was able to speak with Fico in hospital.
Michal Šimečka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia, said that “the attack on the prime minister is an attack on democracy.”
He also said that “most of all, we now need to end the spiral of attacks and blame. We must all contribute to this in our own way, both as politicians and as citizens.”
Katarina Roth Neveďalová, a member of the European parliament representing Smer, said “I hope that this assassination attempt taught us that all the politicians have to be more responsible in their speeches, activities and protests and can not call for harsh reactions.”
The outgoing and next presidents appeared together in an appeal for Slovaks to overcome their increasingly tense differences for the good of the country.
On the outskirts of the sleepy south-central Slovakian town of Levice, several police guards were stationed at the entrance of the flat where the 71-year-old former security guard and poet Juraj Cintula, suspected of shooting Fico, had lived for forty years.
“I am shocked. He was a polite, helpful and calm guy,” his longtime neighbour and friend Mile L’udovit said.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said he received threats after the assassination attempt in Slovakia.
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has pointed to the shooting as a reason to “vote for peace” in the European parliament election. “We remain hopeful for his recovery, but now we must fight for peace alone,” he said.
Peter Bárdy, the editor-in-chief of Aktuality, said “Slovakia needs to calm the situation, not its further escalation.”
Beata Balogová, editor-in-chief of SME said that “I would like to think that politicians will act responsibly and calm the emotions, but based on the first public statements of some representatives of the ruling Smer party, I worry that they will continue to polarise the society.”
Eduard Heger, a former prime minister, said that what happens next depends on the choices of politicians – and that more respect is needed.
The former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev praised Fico, writing that there were few politicians like him in Europe and that he had “reasonable” positions regarding Russia.
'People are gathering around the country to pray,' Smer MEP says, calling for responsibilty
Asked about the impact of the shooting and her reaction to some politicians blaming the opposition and media, Katarina Roth Neveďalová, a member of the European parliament representing Smer, said “people are gathering around the country to pray and sending good wishes.”
“I am just heading for prayer in the national Basilica of the Seven Sorrowful Virgin Mary,” she noted.
“So what we see is a total shock of the general public and absolute rejection of this horrible assassination attempt,” she said, adding: “The European election campaign has stopped for now. And all relevant parties and figures call for peace and to stop the hatred.”
“I hope that this assassination attempt taught us that all the politicians have to be more responsible in their speeches, activities and protests and can not call for harsh reactions.”
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said he received threats after the assassination attempt in Slovakia, Reuters reported.
“There was a lot of it yesterday,” Tusk said on social media with a screenshot of a comment saying: “today, Slovaks gave us an example of what should be done with Donald Tusk” if he decided not to carry out investment in a big airport in central Poland.
Dużo tego było wczoraj. Wizja Polski. pic.twitter.com/948f3T02UJ
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) May 16, 2024
Orbán on Fico: 'we must fight for peace alone'
While Slovakia is in shock, in neighbouring Hungary the government has brought the incident into the election campaign.
The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has pointed to Robert Fico’s shooting as a reason to “vote for peace” in the European parliament election.
“We remain hopeful for his recovery, but now we must fight for peace alone,” he said.
“We must now fight with doubled effort, alone. It’s crucial to end the violence and vote for peace on June 9th!” he added.
🕊️ @PM_ViktorOrban: Following the governmental change after Slovakia's election, Slovakia began its journey towards peace, which was greatly beneficial for Hungary. "This process has now been disrupted and shot across by a left-wing activist's assassination attempt on the Slovak…
— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) May 16, 2024
President-elect speaks to Fico in hospital
Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia’s president-elect, said that he was able to speak with Robert Fico in hospital, Reuters reported.
Pellegrini also said he hopes Fico will be able to make decisions in the coming days, but that for the time being a deputy will take over his duties.
Updated
Robert Kaliňák, a member of Fico’s Smer party who is serving as deputy prime minister and defence minister, has been taking a leading role in the hours since the shooting.
The 53-year old has previously served as minister of the interior in 2006 -2010 and 2012- 2018.
Updated
The Slovakian government’s press conference this afternoon is available to watch in English here.
'Very dangerous road': SME editor-in-chief warns about polarisation
Beata Balogová, editor-in-chief of SME, told the Guardian today that “we have not learned our lesson from the murder of Jan Kuciak, when the society got to a crossroad and we needed to decide if we want to be an European country where murder of a public figure, a journalist is unacceptable”.
The Slovakian journalist, who focused on investigations into tax fraud and corruption, was killed in 2018 along with his fiancee in an attack which led to the downfall of a previous administration run by Robert Fico.
“I would like to think that politicians will act responsibly and calm the emotions, but based on the first public statements of some representatives of the ruling Smer party, I worry that they will continue to polarise the society,” said the editor of the liberal daily paper.
Balogová also noted “some of them already blame the media and its critical reporting as well as the opposition protests, which is a very dangerous road to walk.”
The aftermath of the assassination attempt, Balogová cautioned, “might bring brutal measures against the media, civil society and the opposition parties – which would be the opposite expected from the political elite right now.”
Updated
Suspect angry over Fico's attacks on free speech, says neighbour
On the outskirts of the sleepy south-central Slovakian town of Levice, several police guards were stationed at the entrance of the flat where the 71-year-old former security guard and poet Juraj Cintula, suspected of shooting Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico, had lived for forty years.
“I am shocked. He was a polite, helpful and calm guy,” his longtime neighbour and friend Mile L’udovit said, standing outside the unassuming grey apartment block where the two had both lived for 40 years.
L’udovit said he last saw Cintula on Monday when he appeared to be his “usual self”.
“I have known him for decades. If he was planning something, there were no signs. But I can’t look into his head.”
Slovak police have not yet officially named Juraj Cintula as the attacker. L’udovit confirmed earlier media reports that Cintula was a former security guard who wrote poems.
In an undated video posted on Facebook, a man – whom Reuters verified as the alleged attacker – was seen saying: “I do not agree with government policy.”
L’udovit said that the two would occasionally discuss politics and that Cintula expressed anger over what he saw as growing attacks on free speech under Fico’s leadership.
“But I would never have thought he would be capable of such actions. He never talked about using violence,” the neighbour said.
“I don’t have an explanation for why he did what he did,” he added, shaking his head.
Interior minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok described the shooting as a politically motivated assassination attempt.
Updated
Fico attack suspect 'acted alone'
Reuters reports that the suspect in Fico’s assassination attempt acted alone and had previously taken part in anti-government protests, according to the country’s interior minister. He suggested that the suspect disagreed with the government’s justice and media policies and the attack was premeditated. According to Associated Press, Matus Sutaj Estok described the suspect as a “lone wolf” who did not belong to any political groups.
Updated
Political rivals appear together to urge Slovaks to put aside their differences
Associated Press reports that Slovakia’s outgoing and next presidents — political rivals — have appeared together in an appeal for Slovaks to overcome their increasingly tense differences for the good of the country.
Outgoing president Zuzana Čaputová, an opponent of Robert Fico, said on Thursday that the heads of the country’s political parties would meet in an effort to bring calm, saying the attack on the prime minister was a reflection of an increasingly polarised society.
“Let us step out of the vicious circle of hatred and mutual accusations,” Caputova said at a news conference in the capital Bratislava. “What happened yesterday was an individual act. But the tense atmosphere of hatred was our collective work.”
As reported earlier, president-elect Peter Pellegrini has called on political parties to suspend or scale back their campaigns for European elections. At the press conference he said this would prevent “stand-offs and mutual accusations between politicians,” prior the elections, which will be held on 6-9 June.
“If there is anything that the people of Slovakia urgently need today, it is at least basic agreement and unity among the Slovak political representation. And if not consensus, then please, at least civilised ways of discussing among each other,” Pelligrini said.
Updated
'End the spiral of attacks and blame,' opposition leader says
Michal Šimečka, leader of the opposition Progressive Slovakia, said in a social media post that “I appreciate the call for reconciliation and the strong political gesture of president Zuzana Čaputová and president-elect Peter Pellegrini.”
“The attack on the prime minister is an attack on democracy,” he stressed.
“Most of all, we now need to end the spiral of attacks and blame. We must all contribute to this in our own way, both as politicians and as citizens,” he said.
Šimečka also said that Progressive Slovakia “have always been supporters of a professional and decent politics. Even after yesterday’s terrible act, I say this clearly - we immediately suspended the campaign to the European Parliament and are providing full cooperation and collaboration to political partners to calm the situation in Slovakia.”
Oceňujem výzvu na zmierenie a silné politické gesto prezidentky Zuzany Čaputovej a zvoleného prezidenta Petra Pellegriniho. Atentát na premiéra je útokom na demokraciu. Zo všetkého najviac teraz potrebujeme ukončiť špirálu útokov a obviňovania sa. Musíme k tomu prispieť každý… pic.twitter.com/d7uP0Lnl3q
— Michal Šimečka (@MSimecka) May 16, 2024
Updated
I am outside the apartment block where the reported gunman who shot Slovakian PM lived on the top floor in the sleepy town of Levice. “I am shocked, he was a polite and calm guy,” says his longtime neighbour and friend.
I am outside the apartment block where the reported gunman who shot Slovakian PM lived on the top floor in the sleepy town of Levice. “I am shocked, he was a polite and calm guy,” says his longtime neighbour and friend pic.twitter.com/UCwqIn1cyi
— Pjotr Sauer (@PjotrSauer) May 16, 2024
Peter Pellegrini, Slovakia’s president-elect and a Fico ally, has called on parties to suspend or tone down their campaigns ahead of the European parliament election, Reuters reported.
Updated
'Now is the time to change the direction', Slovakia's former prime minister says
Eduard Heger, who served as Slovakia’s prime minister from April 2021 until May 2023, told the Guardian today that what happens next depends on the choices of politicians – and that more respect is needed.
“First of all, I strongly condemn the attack on the prime minister. Violence is unacceptable and I wish him a quick recovery,” Heger said.
Asked about the impact of the shooting on Slovakia’s political landscape and whether the incident could be used as a pretext for a crackdown on critical voices, he said “there is a high threat that it could lead to it.”
“Therefore, it will very much depend on how the politicians will act in the upcoming hours and days. Whether they will bring the society together, or they will keep polarising the society,” Heger said.
He added: “Now is the time to change the direction and bring respect to the political debate. Politicians are role models for the society and they need to lead the society into the roots of democracy and freedom for the good of all citizens.”
Slovakia’s outgoing president, Zuzana Čaputová, and the president-elect, Peter Pellegrini, have decided to jointly invite the leaders of parliamentary parties to the presidential palace.
'We are at a crossroads': Aktuality editor-in-chief says 'Slovakia needs to calm the situation'
Asked about the impact of the shooting on Slovakia’s political landscape, Peter Bárdy, the editor-in-chief of Slovakian news site Aktuality, told the Guardian this morning that “the good news is that Robert Fico’s health has stabilised. Many things depend on it.”
“I honestly think that the politicians - government and opposition - are on the move,” he said. “They are the only ones who have the opportunity to dampen emotions in the country, to adjust their vocabulary, their attitude towards public affairs, towards the political struggle, and towards the media.”
“I am not naive, I see that populism and the radicalisation of public debate is a global problem and Slovakia will certainly not be the leader of change in this regard,” Bárdy said.
“However, I think that we are at a crossroads, similar to how it was after the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee, and we are deciding which way to go. I hope that this will not be another attack on the democratic principles of the state and on the freedoms of its citizens. Slovakia needs to calm the situation, not its further escalation,” he said.
Here are the latest images from Slovakia.
Medvedev praises Fico
The former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev praised Robert Fico today, writing that there were few politicians like him in Europe and that he had “reasonable” positions regarding Russia, Reuters reported.
Updated
Slovakia's police says it is looking at online comments
Slovakia’s police has issued a statement saying that it is monitoring online activities and that there have been some comments approving of yesterday’s shooting and spreading hate.
The police is evaluating these posts and will take action if they constitute a crime, the statement said, calling for respect and tolerance.
Updated
Suspect charged with attempted murder
The suspect in yesterday’s shooting has been charged with attempted murder of Slovakia’s prime minister, local media reported.
Slovakia’s security council is set to meet this morning to discuss further action following the shock shooting that has been described by officials as the darkest day in the country’s modern history.
As Slovakians commuted to work this morning, many were still grappling with the news of the assassination attempt.
“I don’t have words for this. This should never have happened in the 21st century no matter who you vote for,” said Mária Szabó, a shopkeeper in the capital, Bratislava.
“Our country is heading in the wrong direction,” she added.
Miriam Lapuníková, director of the Roosevelt hospital in Banská Bystrica, said Fico was in surgery for five hours, Aktuality reported.
US condemns shooting in Slovakia
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said that “the United States condemns the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Fico.”
“Our thoughts are with him, his family, and the Slovak people, and we wish him a full recovery,” he added.
The United States condemns the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Fico. Our thoughts are with him, his family, and the Slovak people, and we wish him a full recovery.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 15, 2024
Hospital director: Fico's condition stabilised but serious
Robert Fico’s condition is stabilised but remains serious, a hospital director said today, Reuters reported.
“At this point his condition is stabilised but is truly very serious, he will be in the intensive care unit,” she said.
Updated
Fico's condition still very serious, minister says
Robert Kaliňák, Slovakia’s defence minister, said this morning at the Banská Bystrica hospital that Robert Fico’s condition is still very serious but that doctors managed to stabilise him overnight, Dennik N reported.
Updated
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome back to the blog.
Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot on Wednesday. He was taken to hospital and underwent surgery.
Tomáš Taraba, a deputy prime minister, told the BBC that Fico’s surgery had gone “well” and “I guess that at the end he will survive”.
Earlier, Slovakia’s defence minister, Robert Kaliňák, said the prime minister was in an “extraordinarily serious” condition and that medical workers in the city of Banská Bystrica were fighting for his life.
The attack, which came as Europe prepares for elections in June and amid a rise in attacks on politicians, was widely condemned by European leaders.
A suspect was arrested.
Local reports identified the alleged gunman as Juraj C, a 71-year-old.
Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
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