Slovakia PM Robert Fico in ‘very serious’ condition after being shot | News

Inside minister says suspect charged with tried homicide is ‘lone wolf’ who had joined anti-government protests.

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is steady however his situation stays “very critical”, his deputy has mentioned, after an assassination try that shocked the nation and drew world condemnation.

Fico, 59, was shot 5 instances within the central city of Handlova on Wednesday after he left a authorities assembly. He was in crucial situation and underwent a number of hours of emergency surgical procedure.

“Through the evening, docs managed to stabilise the affected person’s situation,” Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak mentioned on Thursday.

“Sadly, the situation continues to be very critical because the accidents are sophisticated,” mentioned Kalinak, who can also be the defence minister.

Miriam Lapunikova, the director of the FD Roosevelt College Hospital in Banska Bystrica the place Fico was being handled, mentioned he “had a number of gunshot wounds, the results of which is able to have an effect on his restoration”.

“At this level, his situation has stabilised, however it’s actually very critical, and subsequently he’ll stay within the intensive care unit,” she added.

In a while Thursday, President-elect Peter Pellegrini, who gained election in April, mentioned he had spoken with Fico.

“He is ready to converse however only some sentences after which he’s actually drained as a result of he’s on some treatment,” he advised reporters.

The alleged attacker, a 71-year-old author and former safety guard, has been charged with tried homicide, mentioned Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Bankska Bystrica.

Inside Minister Matus Sutaj Estok advised a information convention that the suspect had acted alone and had beforehand taken half in anti-government protests.

“It is a lone wolf who had radicalised himself … after the presidential election,” he mentioned, referring to the vote gained by Pellegrini.

“Slovak police are working with a single model of the assault and the suspect is charged with tried homicide with premeditation,” Sutaj Estok advised reporters, including that the assault was “politically motivated”.

President Zuzana Caputova referred to as for a chilled of political tensions and mentioned she would invite all parliamentary celebration leaders for a joint assembly.

“Let’s step out of the vicious circle of hatred and mutual accusations,” she mentioned on Thursday. “What occurred yesterday was a person act however the tense ambiance of hatred has been our collective work.”

Pellegrini referred to as on all events to droop or cut back campaigning earlier than the European Parliament elections scheduled for June.

Following the assault, Fico was rushed to a hospital in Handlova however was quickly transferred by helicopter to the regional capital, Banska Bystrica, for pressing remedy.

Reacting to the incident, Russia mentioned it thought-about the assault “completely unacceptable”.

“That is actually a terrific tragedy,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned on Thursday.

Fico’s European counterparts, together with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, condemned the taking pictures and wished him an entire restoration.

The nation of 5.4 million has seen polarised political debate in recent times, together with final yr’s presidential election that helped Fico tighten his grip on energy.

Since returning as prime minister final October, his authorities has scaled again help for Ukraine whereas opening up dialogue with Russia, seemed to reduce punishments for corruption, and is revamping the RTVS public broadcaster regardless of a name to guard media freedoms.

Fico is Slovakia’s longest-serving political chief and ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.