Worthy Christian News > World News > Slovakia’s Premier ‘Expected To Survive’ After Assassination Attempt (Worthy News In-Depth)

Slovakia’s Premier ‘Expected To Survive’ After Assassination Attempt (Worthy News In-Depth)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was “expected to survive” following hours-long surgery after he was shot five times outside the House of Culture in the Slovak town of Handlová while meeting supporters.

Tomáš Taraba, the deputy prime minister, said Fico was no longer in a life-threatening situation and “expected to survive.”

He said: “Fortunately, as far as I know, the operation went well – and I guess in the end he will survive. He is not in a life-threatening situation at this moment.”

Taraba said Fico was “heavily injured.” He added: “One bullet went through the stomach, and the second one hit the joint – immediately he was transported to the hospital and then to the operation.”

Slovakia’s interior minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, said initial information “clearly points to a political motivation” after Slovakia’s presidential election, referring to the April election won by a Fico ally, Peter Pellegrini.

The suspect is a 71-year-old man, identified as Juraj Cintula, a self-described writer who founded the Rainbow Literary Club and previously worked as a security guard at a shopping mall.

Slovak media cited his son as saying his father was the legal holder of a gun license.

PRO-RUSSIA GROUP

Cintula is also allegedly linked to a pro-Russian paramilitary group. The group, known as Slovenskí Branci, was accused of trying to recruit young men across Slovakia for its organization. On social media, Cintula was seen holding a speech next to group members wearing camouflage.

In the accompanying text attributed to Cintula, he expressed support for self-organized militias, which should be allowed to protect “the inhabitants, the country, tradition, (and) culture” from migrants outside Europe.

Yet it was unclear why the apparent shooter gunned down Fico, a pro-Russian nationalist populist who refused to send weapons to wartorn Ukraine.

The shooting also came after protests against the prime minister’s plans to replace the public broadcaster, which critics said would open it up to political influence.

Fico’s move to close a special prosecutor’s office focused on high-level corruption has raised the possibility that the European Union could freeze some funding allocated to Slovakia.

Legislation labeling civil society groups receiving more than 5,000 euros ($5,450) in international funding as “organizations with foreign support” also triggered worries in the EU and non-governmental organizations.

Advocacy group Amnesty International Slovakia described the bill as “a thinly disguised attempt to stigmatize civil society organizations that are critical of the authorities and hamper their vital work.”

VIDEO COMMENTS

A video appeared to show the alleged shooter in detention saying that he disagreed with the government’s policies, particularly what he described as the “liquidation” of the media. However, police were still investigating his motives.

Fico is a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban of neighboring Hungary, who said he was “deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend.”

Having enjoyed three previous stints as prime minister, critics accuse Fico of seeking to emulate Orbán by trying to undermine checks and balances and cement his power while also taking a friendlier stance toward Russia.

Yet on Wednesday, leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladimir Putin were united in condemning the attack on Fico.

The U.S. president said he was “alarmed,” while Von der Leyen said: “I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico.”

Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany, a country which has itself experienced a wave of violent attacks on politicians in the past month, said: “I am deeply shocked by the news of the cowardly attack on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico.”

He added: “Violence must not exist in European politics.”

SECURITY CONCERNS

Slovakia’s President Zuzana Čaputová condemned what she called a “brutal and reckless” attack on the 59-year-old politician.

She said the shooting was “an attack on democracy as well,” as Slovakia is a member of the European Union and NATO military alliance.

It has also raised questions about security surrounding Fico and other politicians after footage showed the gunman could approach him relatively quickly.

Footage showed the gunman being bundled to the ground only after he was able to fire his shots some 150 kilometers (94 miles) northeast of the capital, Bratislava.

As security forces tried to secure the area, Fico was rushed to hospital.

Wednesday’s attack was the first assassination attempt on a European national leader since 2003, when Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was killed.