The Prime Minister of Slovakia was shot and taken to hospital world

Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was shot and taken by helicopter to hospital on Wednesday (15). One suspect was arrested at the scene.

Four gunshots were reportedly heard after a government meeting in the city of Handlova, 190 kilometers from the capital, Bratislava. The TA3 television network said that one of the bullets hit the prime minister in the stomach.

According to information from the Slovakian news site Aktualít, a few people were waiting for Fico outside the place where the meeting took place. None of them booed or chanted slogans against the government. Only one man appeared to be protesting, holding a sign in his hand.

In a statement, the country’s president, Zuzana Caputova, condemned the “brutal” attack on Fico and wished him a speedy recovery.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also spoke out, saying the news came as a “shock.” He also wishes his colleague a speedy recovery.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she “strongly condemned the attack” – Slovakia has been part of the EU since 2004.

Pro-Russian and nationalist

Slovakia’s position is relatively important, as the country is part of the North Atlantic Military Organization, the Western military alliance.

Fico’s party, Direção Social-Democracia (Smer-SSD), is more nationalistic and socially conservative, and criticizes social liberalism, which he says is imposed by Brussels.

Fico previously served as prime minister for two other terms, between 2006 and 2010, and between 2012 and 2018. This last time, he resigned from his position under pressure from the opposition, after the killing of a journalist who was investigating corruption in his government. .