- Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is out of danger after Wednesday’s attack.
- Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak told the TASR news agency.
- The suspected perpetrator has been in custody since Saturday.
“There is no longer any immediate threat to his life, but his condition remains serious and he requires intensive care,” said Kalinak, Fico’s closest political ally.
The 59-year-old Fico was hit by five shots from close range during an encounter with citizens about 200 kilometers from Bratislava on Wednesday.
Legend:
Slovak Prime Minister Rober Fico was shot on Wednesday.
REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke
According to media reports, the arrested suspected attacker is 71 years old, a former security guard and the author of three books of poetry. He has since been charged with attempted murder and, according to the Interior Ministry, acted alone.
Fico took office as prime minister in October, a position he has held three times since 2006. He has since initiated a policy change that critics in the opposition describe as a grab for power. He has reduced aid to Ukraine and at the same time sought dialogue with Russia. He made NATO partly responsible for the Russian war of aggression. He also disempowered a special public prosecutor’s office that was supposed to take action against corruption.
Threats are increasing
Since the assassination attempt on Fico, there have been increasing threats against other politicians in Slovakia. Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok told the daily newspaper Pravda. The minister, who belongs to the second largest government party “Voice – Social Democracy”, said that he himself had also received death threats. A member of parliament from the largest government party “Towards – Slovak Social Democracy”, led by Fico, was also threatened. In both cases, a perpetrator was identified.
Death threats against the liberal opposition leader Michal Simecka and his family had previously become known. Aside from specific death threats, the number of aggressive statements on social media has also increased sharply, Slovak media reported, citing experts.