Slovakian PM Robert Fico critical after assassination attempt

Robert Fico, Slovakia’s populist prime minister, suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot and wounded in an attempted assassination on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The police have detained the suspect.

The incident took place in the town of Handlova, some 150 kilometres northeast of the capital, Bratislava, according to the news television station TA3.

The 59-year-old Robert Fico was hit in the stomach after four shots were fired at him in front of the local House of Culture when he was meeting his supporters.

"An assassination (attempt) on Prime Minister Robert Fico was carried out today at the government's off-site meeting in Handlova," the government office said in a statement, according to Reuters.

“At the moment he is being transported by helicopter to Banska Bystrica, because it would take too long to Bratislava in view of the necessity of an acute intervention.”

Deputy speaker of parliament Lubos Blaha also confirmed the attack on Robert Fico during a session of Parliament and subsequently adjourned it until further notice.

Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova condemned the incident, calling it “a brutal and ruthless” attack on the premier.

“I’m shocked,” Caputova said, according to AP. “I wish Robert Fico a lot of strength in this critical moment and a quick recovery from this attack.”

Robert Fico, a third-time premier, and his leftist Smer (Direction) party won Slovakia's September 30 parliamentary elections. The win marked Fico's political comeback as he campaigned on a pro-Russian and anti-American message.

Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico's policies, according to AP.

World leaders express shock

Several leaders across the world have expressed shock over the assassination attempt on Robert Fico.

In a post on X, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed shock and said that there must be no place for violence in European politics.

"News of the cowardly assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico shocks me deeply. Violence must have no place in European politics."

Austria's conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer also said he was shocked. "Hate and violence must not be allowed to take hold in our democracies and must be fought with the utmost determination," he wrote.