Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico was peppered with bullets on Wednesday in an apparent assassination attempt. But Mr. Fico, 59, the populist leader of the Direction Social Democratic Party, a political hybrid with elements of both the left and social conservatism, is expected to pull through.
Deputy Prime Minister Thomas Taraba
Said The BBC reported that Fico’s five-hour operation was “successful”, adding: “I think he will survive in the end.”
“This assassination attempt was politically motivated, and the suspect decided to carry out the assassination shortly after the presidential election.”
witness
Said The assassination attempt occurred on Wednesday as Fico emerged from a building to shake hands with people in Handlova, a town in central Slovakia, Reuters reported. chair a government meeting. Before Fico could exchange pleasantries, a gunshot rang out. Police tackled the 71-year-old suspect and forced him to the ground while security guards carried away the bloodied leader.
Fico was reportedly shot a total of five times. Taraba said one bullet pierced the prime minister’s abdomen and another struck him in the joint.
According to Slovak news, the suspect charged in the shooting is Čurad Cintura, a liberal activist, former shopping mall security guard and self-proclaimed poet. The suspect’s son said, “I have no idea what his father intended, what he planned, what happened.”
Sintura allegedly told police that he had been planning the attack for several days but had not intended to kill Fico.
report Politico.
Although Fico is expected to survive, it is unclear what the future holds for the country of 5.4 million people. After all, the prime minister’s allies appear to suspect that the attack was politically motivated.
Interior Minister Matusz Stasi Estok hinted at a link between last month’s shooting by Fico’s ally Peter Pellegrini and the presidential election.
Safe He received 53% of the vote, ahead of former Foreign Minister and FICO critic Ivan Korkok.
Mr. Korcok has been harshly critical of Mr. Pellegrini and Mr. Fico’s stance on Ukraine.
After taking office again in October, Fico immediately angered his European NATO allies and domestic centrists by following through on his campaign promises:
Stop Provide all military aid to Ukraine while maintaining “comprehensive” non-military aid to the distressed state. Fico also expressed his anger by stressing his opposition to Ukraine’s possible NATO membership and sanctions against Russia.
“I’m scared of where this hatred of different political opinions is going.”
After Mr. Pellegrini’s election, Mr. Fico expressed concern that progressive voters’ dehumanization and growing discontent with their political opponents could be “amplified by newspapers, media, and news” and lead to the murder of government leaders. It is reported that he did.
“This assassination attempt was politically motivated, and the suspect decided to carry out the assassination shortly after the presidential election.”
Said Estok.
Pellegrini joined outgoing Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova on Thursday in condemning the attack and calling for calm to prevail.
report DPA International.
“Let’s break out of the vicious cycle of hatred and mutual condemnation,” Čaputova said.
further suggested This shooting amounts to an attack on democracy.
Pellegrini
I have written “The attempted assassination of the prime minister is a threat to everything that has traditionally graced Slovakia’s democracy,” X reported.
“I’m scared of where this hatred for different political opinions is going. We don’t have to agree with everything, but there are many ways to democratically and legally express our disagreements.” The Slovak President continued. “The assassination attempt against one of the top constitutional officials is an unprecedented threat to democracy in Slovakia. Expressing different political opinions with a gun in the square rather than in the voting booth means that we will not be able to do so in 31 years of Slovakia’s sovereignty. It puts everything we’ve built together at risk.” ”
President Joe Biden
said “We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close contact with the Slovak government and stands ready to assist,” it said Wednesday.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
I have written“We are shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy similarly condemned the attack.
Focus on it “Every effort should be made to prevent violence from becoming the norm in any country, form or territory.”
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