Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attends a press conference during the special session of the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, April 18, 2024.
Pier Marco Taka | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the continent.
The 59-year-old man was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Banská Bystrica, a city in central Slovakia, for treatment.
A post on Fico’s official Facebook page said the prime minister was “shot multiple times and is in critical condition” after an “assassination attempt.”
“He is currently being flown by helicopter to Banská Bystrica as traveling to Bratislava will take too long given the urgency of the matter,” the post said, according to an NBC translation. What’s next Time will decide.
Reuters quoted the Slovak news agency TASR as saying that Fico was shot and wounded in the abdomen after holding a government meeting in Handlova, a city in central Slovakia.
Slovakia’s foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.
Fico returned to power last September on a pro-Russian and anti-American campaign platform.
Slovak President Zuzana Čaputova “strongly” condemned the “brutal and merciless attack” in a Google Translate article on Facebook postalbut did not provide further details on the nature of the attack.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and one person was detained after a Slovak government meeting in Handlova, Slovakia, on May 15, 2024.
Radovan Stoklasa | Reuters
European leaders were shocked by the news and wished Fico well.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said via social media platform X: “I strongly condemn the despicable attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.”
“Such violence has no place in our society and undermines democracy, our most precious common good. My heart goes out to Prime Minister Fico and his family,” she added.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban explain He was “deeply shocked” by the “heinous attack” on Slovak Fico.
“We pray for his health and a speedy recovery! God bless him and his country!” Orban said via X.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz explain “I am deeply shocked by the news of a cowardly assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Fico.”
“Violence must have no place in European politics,” Scholz said in a Google Translate post on X. “My heart goes out to Robert Fico, his family and the citizens of Slovakia at this moment.”
Security personnel move Slovak Prime Minister Roberto Fico, who was wounded in a shooting, into a car after a Slovak government meeting in Handlova, Slovakia, on May 15, 2024.
Radovan Stoklasa | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack on Fico was “shocking” and “strongly” condemned the violence.
Zelensky said via X: “Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, in any form or in any field.”
“We sincerely wish Robert Fico a speedy recovery and express our solidarity with the people of Slovakia,” he added.
Czech Prime Minister Peter Fiala describe News of Fico’s shooting was “shocking” and he expressed hope for a “speedy recovery” from the Slovak prime minister.
“We cannot tolerate violence, it has no place in society,” Fiala said in a Google Translate post on social media platform X.
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