Who Shot Slovak PM Robert Fico | What we Know so Far

Slovakian PM Robert Fico is in life-threatening condition after being shot multiple times, his Facebook profile claimed.  For the unversed, Fico was wounded in a shooting Wednesday afternoon and rushed to a hospital in Banska Bystrica. Reports on TA3, a Slovakian TV station, said that Fico, 59, was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometres northeast of the capital, where the leader was meeting with supporters. Following the mishap, Slovakia's major opposition parties, Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity, cancelled a planned protest against a controversial government plan to overhaul public broadcasting that they say would give the government full control of public radio and television.

Who Shot Fico?  

Though no motive for the attack was immediately apparent, a suspect detained for shooting Slovakia’s PM is a 71-year-old writer. The suspect, apprehended at the scene of the shooting in Handlova, is reportedly a prominent literary figure from Levice. Eyewitness accounts describe a grey-haired man being handcuffed following the incident, which occurred after a government meeting.

Media sources identified the suspect as a founding member of the DUHA (Rainbow) Literary Club and noted that he has published three poetry collections. He has also been a member of the official Association of Slovak Writers since 2015. The association stated on Facebook that if the man’s involvement in the shooting is confirmed, his membership will be immediately revoked.

The shooting in Slovakia comes three weeks ahead of crucial European Parliament elections, in which populist and hard-right parties in the 27-nation bloc appear poised to make gains. Deputy Speaker of parliament Lubos Blaha confirmed the incident during a session of Slovakia's Parliament and adjourned it until further notice. Fico was shot multiple times, said a post on his official Facebook page. 

Reactions Pour In

“We absolutely and strongly condemn violence and today's shooting of Premier Robert Fico" said Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka. 

“At the same time we call on all politicians to refrain from any expressions and steps which could contribute to further increasing the tension.” President Zuzana Caputova condemned “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the premier.

“I'm shocked,” Caputova said. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.” Fico, a third-time premier, and his leftist Smer, or Direction, party, won Slovakia's Sept. 30 parliamentary elections, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message.

Condemnations of political violence quickly came from leaders across Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she described as a “vile attack.” “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the incident “shocking,” adding “I wish the premier to get well soon. We cannot tolerate violence, there's no place for it in society.” The Czech Republic and Slovakia formed Czechoslovakia till 1992.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on the social media network X: “Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment.”