Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is now receiving care at home after being moved from a hospital in the central city of Banska Bystrica. He had been in the hospital recovering from an assassination attempt, as per the hospital’s statement on Friday.
The attempt on Fico’s life occurred when an attacker shot him with four bullets at close range while he was greeting supporters at a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova on May 15.
The incident occurred as Fico greeted supporters following a government meeting in Handlova. The suspect, reportedly a 71-year-old retiree and amateur poet Juraj C., was swiftly apprehended at the scene.
He was promptly detained at the scene and has since been charged with attempted premeditated murder. Though lacking political affiliations, the attack is deemed politically motivated, according to government authorities.
The severity of the attack left Fico, aged 59, in serious condition, necessitating a five-hour operation followed by another procedure two days later.
Fico’s political tenure has been marked by controversy, with his return to power raising concerns domestically and abroad. His government’s stance on issues like Ukraine and proposed legislative changes have sparked widespread protests across Slovakia.
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Critics fear Fico’s policies could lead the nation towards authoritarianism, citing efforts to control public broadcasting and amend the penal code. Fico himself has acknowledged rising tensions, expressing concern over the safety of politicians amid heightened societal divisions.
This incident marks the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader in over 20 years, shedding light on the deep political divisions within Slovakia, a country with a population of 5.4 million people.
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