Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was shot multiple times by a gunman while greeting a small crowd in Banikov Square in Handlova. He was quickly rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba later reported that Fico’s condition was no longer life-threatening, and he was expected to survive. The 71-year-old poet who carried out the attack was subdued by security officers immediately after the shooting. The interior minister suggested that the attack had political motivation due to Fico’s controversial positions, drawing parallels to other leaders in Europe who have faced violence for their sentiments.
Fico, a long-standing figure in Slovakian politics, has shifted his political views over the years towards right-wing ideologies. His criticism of the European Union and his opposition to certain international policies have placed him outside the mainstream European political landscape. Supporters see him as a defender of traditional values and a voice for the working class, while opponents view him as a threat to democracy and accuse him of regressing the country to authoritarian rule. Despite facing significant backlash and being ousted from power in 2018, Fico made a comeback in the following year by aligning himself with anti-L.G.B.T.Q. sentiments and challenging the status quo.
The assassination attempt on Fico underscores the growing polarization and violence in European political discourse. The attack was captured on video, showing the moment the gunman fired at the prime minister from close range. The swift response from security officers helped transport Fico to receive medical treatment, with officials initially reporting that his injuries were life-threatening. The shooting elicited widespread condemnation from global leaders, with concerns raised about the state of democracy and political violence in Europe. President Vladimir Putin of Russia praised Fico as a courageous leader, while Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned the attack as an assault on democracy.
The shooting has polarized opinion in Slovakia, with some of Fico’s allies suggesting that politically motivated opponents were responsible for creating the climate that led to the attack. Opposition figures refuted these claims and warned against spreading misinformation about the assailant. The incident comes on the heels of mass protests in 2018 following the murders of a journalist and his fiancée, which implicated government corruption. While perpetrators were later convicted, a key figure allegedly involved in the murders was acquitted, fueling public discontent and mistrust in the government. The aftermath of the shooting has led to heightened tensions and raised questions about the state of democracy and political stability in Slovakia.
