BANSKA BYSTRICA: Slovakian politicians have appealed for peace in the country after Wednesday’s shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico by an assassin, a rare case of political violence that was surprising despite deep divisions within the country. A hospital official said on Thursday that Fico was in serious but stable condition after multiple bullets were lodged in him during his attempted murder; a development that shook the small nation and echoed around Europe ahead of this month’s European elections.
The suspect is behind bars, and the initial inquiry found out “clear political motivation” behind an attack on Fico at a meeting with ministers in a former mining town.
The reason remained undisclosed. Fico has always been seen as a divisive influence both within Slovakia and across wider Europe, and his return to power last year with anti-American, pro-Russian rhetoric sent even bigger alarm bells ringing among other European Union members who feared he might end up steering his country away from its Western course.
It took place against the background of high polarization in Slovakia where thousands of citizens are taking to streets weekly protesting against his policies. This comes few weeks before the June elections to the European Parliament.
Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, who ran against Fico, said that heads of all political parties would meet today to calm down people and say “no” to violence.
“We want everyone to assume their responsibility”, Caputova told reporters in Bratislava, adding that she did not want to see any more violence.
Caputova appeared alongside Peter Pellegrini who is Slovakia’s new president. The prearranged joint message symbolized attempts at defusing mounting tensions within the nation over recent months and called on Slovaks not be divided along party lines anymore.
“This assassination attempt deserves collective unambiguous condemnation,” Pellegrini stated. “Therefore I appeal now upon all Slovak political parties either completely stop or significantly decrease their campaigns for election into the European Parliament as such campaigns are naturally connected with conflict and Slovakia least of all needs any confrontations at present.”
Fico’s government, which was elected in September last year, has banned arms supplies to Ukraine and is considering amendments to the penal code that will abolish a special anti-corruption prosecutor and even take over public media. However, critics have been worried about Fico leading NATO member Slovakia since he came to power in an autocratic direction.
“This strike on Fico was a great shock for us,” said Zuzana Eliasova, a resident, adding that it was also an attack on the country’s democracy during a time when there were already heightened political tensions.
Fico underwent a five-hour-long surgery after the shooting was performed by doctors at the Banska Bystrica-based F.D. Roosevelt Hospital where he was initially reported as having sustained life-threatening injuries. He is currently being kept under treatment in an intensive care unit.
Government officials said that five shots were fired near a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, which is almost 140 kilometres (85 miles) northeast of the capital.
A government office said Slovakia’s Security Council was set to meet in Bratislava on Thursday over this matter and next would be a government meeting.
Fico came back to power in Slovakia last year after having served twice as prime minister. He has been most frequently described as a left-populist along with his Smer party but he has also been compared with right wing politicians such as Viktor Orban, the nationalist Prime Minister of Hungary who is right next door.
Critics worried that Fico’s return could take Slovakia away from mainstream Europe. He pledged to be tough on migration and NGOs, and campaigned against LGBTQ+ rights.
Although Fico was heavily controversial when he was leading, both his friends and enemies condemned the assault. Moreover, on Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to President Caputova expressing his support for him and wishing him an early recovery.
“I know Robert Fico as courageous and strong-willed man,” Putin wrote in a message issued by the Kremlin. “I fervently hope these personal traits will help him overcome such a difficult situation.”
Also Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned violence against neighboring country’s head of government.
“Any efforts at making sure violence does not spread out into any country nor take any form or shape should be made,” he added.
