Attempt to assassinate Slovakia's pro-Russian prime minister shocks European politics
He was hit by three bullets, one of which penetrated his abdomen, but is recovering.
Slovakia, where the prime minister's assassination occurred, is embroiled in stark political divisions.
editor
On the 15th (local time), pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was shot and seriously injured.
This attempted assassination incident sparked international criticism as an example of how extreme political polarization is currently in Slovakia.
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| Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Photo = Reuters) |
Prime Minister Fico was hit by three of the five bullets fired by a gunman as he was leaving the building after a cabinet meeting, one of which penetrated his abdomen. However, he is recovering after undergoing surgery that lasted five hours. A hospital official said, "His condition is currently stable." “But it is so serious that he will be admitted to the intensive care unit,” he said.
Slovak media reported that the shooter, Juraj Cintula, was a former shopping mall security guard born in 1953 and a member of the Slovak Writers' Association who had written three books of poetry. The criminal was arrested on the spot immediately after the crime. It is known that he is not a member of the pro-Western Progressive Slovakia Party.
According to AFP, Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said at a press conference that the attack was "politically motivated."
Fico and his government coalition allies have accused the media and opposition parties of stoking tensions in the central European country.
Slovakia's largest opposition party, the liberal Progressive Slovakia, canceled planned protests and called for restraint to avoid escalating tensions.
Prime Minister Fico has long been critical of Slovakia's mainstream media and has refused to speak to some media outlets. Members of his party have criticized the actions of the media and opposition parties in recent months.
In Germany, where recent attacks on politicians have been frequent, Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed shock, saying, "Violence is unacceptable in European politics."
Prime Minister Pitso, who is considered a pro-Russian strongman, won the general election last October by targeting voters dissatisfied with support for Ukraine.
He was first elected prime minister when the center-left Social Democratic Party (Smer) won the general election in 2006, and served for four years. He then became prime minister again in 2012. He stepped down in 2018 amid anti-government protests following the murder of a journalist covering government corruption, but returned to power last year and became the country's longest-serving prime minister.
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