Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico was in stable condition, but his condition took a turn for the worse on Saturday when the man accused of trying to assassinate him made his first court appearance.
A surgery that took two hours to remove dead tissue from Fico’s multiple gunshot wounds on Friday raised hopes for his recovery, but the government said he was not well enough to go to a hospital in the capital Bratislava. Ministers spoke outside FD Roosevelt University Hospital in 2016. After the shooting, Fico was taken to Banská Bystrik by helicopter.
Defense Minister Robert Kalinak said: “Several miracles have taken place in the last few days thanks to the hands of all the doctors, nurses and medical staff.” “There are no words to express my gratitude for the fact that we are moving steadily closer to that positive prognosis.”
Fico, 59, was shot in the abdomen on Wednesday as he greeted supporters after a government meeting in the former coal-mining town of Handlova, officials said. After firing five shots, the suspect was tackled to the ground and arrested.
Prosecutors had asked Slovakia’s specialized criminal court to order the suspect’s detention.
Prosecutors have instructed police not to release the man’s identity or release any other details about the case, but unconfirmed media reports say the man is a 71-year-old retiree known as an amateur poet and former He may have been working as a security guard at a shopping mall in the southwestern part of the country. .
Government officials have released details consistent with that description. Although the attack itself was politically motivated, the suspect did not belong to any political group.
The courthouse in Pezinok, a small town on the outskirts of the capital Bratislava, was guarded by police wearing helmets and balaclavas and carrying rifles. Media access was prohibited and reporters were confined behind an outdoor gate.
Police took the suspect to his home in the town of Levice on Friday and seized his computer and some documents, Slovak TV station Markisa reported. Police had no comment.
Police have remained largely silent about the incident, and it is unclear how the suspect came to possess the firearm.
Slovakia has strict rules regarding firearms, requiring gun owners to have a valid reason and pass an inspection to possess a gun.
As a result, Slovakia has one of the lowest gun ownership rates in Europe. The country’s gun ownership rate was 6.5 per 100 people, ranking it 23rd out of 27 countries in the European Union, according to the EU Association of Public Policy Advocates.
World leaders condemned the attack and offered support to Fico and Slovakia.
Fico has long been a controversial figure both within and outside Slovakia. His return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American platform raised concerns among European Union and NATO allies that he would abandon his country’s pro-Western stance, particularly on Ukraine. .
When Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Slovakia was one of Ukraine’s most ardent supporters, but Fico, who returned to power for the fourth time as prime minister, refused to provide arms to Ukraine. has been stopped.
Fico’s government is also undertaking an overhaul of public broadcasting, which critics say would give the government full control over public television and radio. This, coupled with plans to reform the criminal law to eliminate the anti-corruption special prosecutor, has opponents worried that Fico will lead Slovakia down a more authoritarian path.
Thousands of demonstrators have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across the country of 5.4 million people to protest the president’s policies.
Fico said on Facebook last month that he believed rising tensions in the country could lead to the killing of politicians, and blamed the media for stirring up tensions.
Before Fico returned to power last year, many of his political and business associates were the focus of police investigations, with dozens of people facing charges.
His plan to overhaul the penal system would abolish the position of special prosecutor dealing with organized crime, corruption and extremism.
Despite no one being named as interim leader, Kalinaku said there were no pressing issues requiring the prime minister’s attention and the government was operating as planned and advancing Fico’s agenda. Ta.
Kalinac said communication with Fico was limited given Fico’s condition.
Slovak government officials said the next government meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and Kalinak will be in charge.
