Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot five times in an assassination attempt on Wednesday. According to eyewitness accounts and footage from the scene, Fico was leaving a government meeting in the town of Handlova when an unidentified assailant opened fire on him at close range.
The 59-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the attack before his security detail could intervene. He was seen being rushed into a vehicle, gravely injured, as the alleged shooter was apprehended.
The prime minister was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery in a battle to save his life. Authorities later confirmed on Thursday that he had stabilized overnight, though he remained seriously ill.
The interior minister, Šutaj Eštok, labeled the brazen attack as “politically motivated,” alleging the suspect harbored grievances following Fico’s recent election victory. President Zuzana Čaputová condemned the “brutal and reckless” assault, deeming it an “attack on democracy.”
Robert Fico’s controversial tenure has deeply polarized the Slovakian populace. Supporters laud his populist policies aimed at uplifting the working class, while critics accuse him of authoritarianism and a concerning pro-Russian tilt in foreign affairs. His domestic agenda, including attempts to overhaul the criminal justice system and clamp down on media freedoms, has also sparked widespread protests.
