(CNN) — Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was the target of an assassination attempt after being shot several times on Wednesday following a government meeting.
Fico was shot five times and was taken to the hospital to treat his injuries, which were initially life-threatening. After undergoing surgery for more than three hours, the Slovak Prime Minister “It went well” His life is no longer in danger at the moment.
The attack occurred after a government meeting in the city of Handlova in central Slovakia. Local media reported that the alleged attacker was among a small crowd of people waiting to receive the prime minister in the street in front of the cultural center where the meeting was held.
Security officers carry Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico into a car after the attack in Handlova on May 15, 2024. (Credit: Radovan Stoklasa/Reuters)
What are the attacker’s motives for trying to kill Vico? This is what the authorities say.
“Political motives”, “attack on democracy”, “hate speech”
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kalinac and Interior Minister Matusz Štaj Istok said the attack was “politically motivated.”
“The suspect made the decision to do so shortly after the presidential election,” commented Shotaj Stock.
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová said police had arrested the alleged attacker.
Caputova condemned what she described as a “brutal and reckless” attack on the 59-year-old Fico. At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, he commented that the shooting was “also an attack on democracy.”
Fiko is the most powerful politician in Slovakia. Unlike the president, whose role is limited in scope, the prime minister has the rank of head of government with decision-making capacity.
Defense Minister Robert Kalinac and Interior Minister Matos Sutaj Stock speak to the media on May 15, 2024 in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. (Image source: Zuzana Gogova/Getty Images)
Kalinak and Shotaj Istok also blamed the rise in hate speech and division on the country’s political climate, which they said led to the assassination attempt.
At a press conference in front of the hospital where Fico is being treated, Kalinac said: “Hate is not a response to hate.” “It’s time for some people to take a hard look in the mirror,” noted Kalinak, who was visibly shaken and struggling for words at several points during the conference.
“There is no doubt that this was politically motivated. “The inability to accept people’s choice, which some may not like…leads to this,” he added.
“Disagreement with the government”
Shotaj Eastok stated that the suspect in the attempted assassination of the Slovak Prime Minister said that the motive behind his action was his disagreement with the government on several issues.
“The reasons are the decision to abolish the Special Prosecutor’s Office, the decision to stop providing military aid to Ukraine, the reform of the public broadcasting service, and the dismissal of the Chairman of the Judicial Council,” Shotaj Eastok said.
He added that the suspect is not a member of any extremist group, describing him as a “lone wolf who decided to act after the presidential elections” and that he had participated in anti-government protests in the past.
The reforms proposed and implemented by Fico’s government dramatically divided Slovakia and sparked weeks of massive but entirely peaceful protests.
The suspected attacker was charged with attempted murder
Security personnel detain a suspected attacker after the Slovak Prime Minister was shot in Handelova, Slovakia, on May 15, 2024. (Credit: AFP via Getty Images)
The Slovak Interior Minister has charged the suspect in the shooting death of the Slovak Prime Minister on Wednesday with attempted murder.
“I want to stress that the police are working on only one theory of investigation and that the suspect is charged with attempted murder,” Shottag Eastock said in a press conference on Thursday.
The Slovak government did not specify the name of the suspect.
With reporting from CNN’s Ivana Kutasova, Sugam Pokharel, Zahid Mahmood and Jesse Young.
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