Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot during a visit to the central town of Handlova on Wednesday, local media reported. The assailant has reportedly been arrested.
A journalist from the Denníka N newspaper heard several shots and witnessed Fico being carried into a car by security guards, who rushed him to the hospital. The Slovakian parliament’s vice chairman, Lubos Blaha, confirmed that Fico had been shot and injured, although his condition remains unknown. A bystander reported seeing Fico fall to the ground with head and chest injuries.
The incident occurred while Fico was greeting locals outside Handlova’s House of Culture. Video footage showed him being rushed into a car by bodyguards, which then sped away as bystanders and police apprehended an apparent suspect. Newsweek cannot independently verify the footage.
Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová expressed shock and condemned the “brutal and reckless attack” on the prime minister. She wished Fico strength during this critical moment and extended her thoughts to his family.
Michal Šimečka, a leader of the political opposition, also denounced the violence, emphasizing that they unequivocally condemn such acts. Šimečka expressed hope for Fico’s recovery and urged a swift investigation.
Fico, currently serving his fourth term as prime minister, has been a populist left-wing politician. His reelection in 2023 was seen as a victory for anti-establishment movements across the European Union. Notably, Fico’s stance on blocking financial and military aid to Ukraine has caused tensions within both NATO and the EU. Despite his pro-Russian rhetoric, he previously called Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine a “flagrant violation of international law.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another populist leader with disagreements over Ukraine, expressed shock at the attack and prayed for Fico’s health and recovery. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the violence, emphasizing that such acts undermine democracy.
