Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is stable but his condition remains serious after undergoing several hours of surgery. Fico was shot five times in the central town of Handlova after he left a government meeting. The assassination attempt shocked the country and drew global condemnation.

Handlová

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a stable condition after undergoing extensive surgery. Fico was shot multiple times in the town of Handlova following a government meeting. The attempt on his life has shocked the nation and received widespread condemnation internationally.

Video footage has surfaced showing the accused assailant, an elderly former security guard and poet, participating in an anti-government demonstration prior to the attack. He allegedly fired several shots at Fico before being subdued. The Prime Minister was swiftly transported to a medical facility in Bankska Bystrica, where he underwent hours of surgery. Medical professionals report that while Fico’s condition is stable, it remains serious due to the nature of his injuries.

Slovakia’s incoming president has called for national unity in the wake of the attack, urging the populace to avoid further societal tension. She emphasized the importance of not letting political differences incite violence. Fico, Slovakia’s longest-serving political leader and an ally of Russia, remains a contentious figure in the country. While his supporters view him as a reliable leader, his detractors argue he has undermined civil liberties.

Authorities have stated that the shooter acted alone and was driven by political motives. There are concerns that the assassination attempt could further destabilize Slovakia’s already polarized political environment.



Slovakia PM in stable condition after surgery

Video has emerged of the man charged with the attempted murder of Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fidzo. It shows the 71-year-old at an anti-government demonstration in western Slovakia last month. On Wednesday, the former security guard and poet is believed to have fired multiple shots at Fidzo in the central Slovakian town of Handlova before he was wrestled to the ground. We didn't quite understand what was happening because until now we were living in a country where we couldn't even imagine someone shooting at a politician. The Prime Minister was bundled into a vehicle and later airlifted to a specialist facility in this hospital in the central Slovak town of Bankska Bystrica where he underwent an operation that lasted hours. Doctors at this hospital worked into the night to save Fidzo's life and say that he's now in a stable but serious condition. The surgical patient had multiple gunshot wounds which will affect his recovery. At this point his condition has stabilised but it is truly very serious. After visiting Fidzo in hospital, Slovakia's incoming president said it was time for people in the country to unite. We have to calm down the situation in the society. We have to ask the people not to fight against each other only because they have other political view or something like that and we have to stop this high and very huge tension in our society. Fidzo is Slovakia's longest serving political leader and close to the Russian president. His supporters say the populist prime minister is a trusted pair of hands. His opponents say he's a divisive figure who's eroding rights. The government says the man who shot him was politically motivated but acted alone. They hope that the assassination attempt won't destabilise an already politically polarised country. Natasha Butler, Al Jazeera, Central Slovakia.

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