Slovak Prime Minister in stable but still “very serious” condition after being shot

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a stable condition but still on the morning of Thursday, May 16. “very serious”after being shot the day before, said Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak. The populist leader came under fire after a meeting in Handlova.

“This night, doctors managed to stabilize the patient’s condition”said the man who is also Minister of Defense. “Unfortunately, his condition remains very serious, because his injuries are complicated”he added during a press briefing in front of the Roosevelt hospital in Banska Bystrica.

The 59-year-old leader suffered on Wednesday “a five-hour operation”, said the director of the establishment, Miriam Lapunikova, for her part, confirming that he is still in a poor condition. “really very serious” and will remain in intensive care.

Robert Fico was shot “several times”, according to his official Facebook page, early Wednesday afternoon after a cabinet meeting in Handlova, in the center of the country. The attack sparked strong emotion in Slovakia and a wave of international condemnation.

Police arrested the suspected attacker, a 71-year-old man identified by Slovak media as a local writer. No information has been given at this stage on his motivations. According to Robert Kalinak, this is‘”a political attack“to which it will be necessary “react accordingly”.