Slovakia’s prime minister in ‘life-threatening condition’ after being shot

The message, posted on his account shortly before 4pm on Wednesday (just before midnight AEST), said Fico “was shot multiple times and is currently in a life-threatening condition”.

“At this point, he was transported by helicopter to Banska Bistrica [a city in central Slovakia]as it will take too long to reach Bratislava due to the need for an acute procedure,” the message said.

“The next few hours will decide.”

Reports on TA3, a Slovakian television station, said Fico, 59, was hit in the stomach after being shot four times outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova, about 150 kilometers northeast of the capital, where the leader had been meeting supporters.

A suspect has been taken into custody, the release said.

Slovakia’s interior minister says the initial investigation shows there was a “clear political motivation” behind the assassination attempt.

Matus Sutaj Estok spoke to reporters on Wednesday evening at the hospital where Prime Minister Fitzo was being treated.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Defense Secretary Robert Kalinak added.

Kalinak said doctors were fighting for Fico’s life after he was shot several times following a political event.

The shooting in Slovakia comes three weeks before crucial European Parliament elections in which populist and hard-right parties in the 27-nation bloc look poised to make gains.

Deputy speaker of the parliament Ljubos Blaha confirmed the incident during the session of the Slovak parliament and postponed it until further notice, Slovak news agency TASR said.

Slovakia’s main opposition parties, Progressive Slovakia and Freedom and Solidarity, called off a planned protest against the government’s controversial plan to overhaul public broadcasting, which they say would give the government full control of public radio and television.

“We absolutely and categorically condemn the violence and today’s shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico,” said Progressive Slovakia leader Michal Simecka.

“At the same time, we call on all politicians to refrain from any expressions and steps that may contribute to further escalation of tensions.

President Zuzana Chaputova condemned the “brutal and merciless” attack on the prime minister.

“I’m shocked,” said Chaputova.

“I wish Robert Fico much strength at this critical time and a speedy recovery from this attack.

Fico, a third-time prime minister, and his left-wing party Smer, or Direction, won Slovakia’s parliamentary election on Sept. 30, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message.

Critics worried that Slovakia under Fico would abandon the country’s pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Thousands have repeatedly gathered in the capital and in Slovakia to protest Fico’s policies.

Leaders across Europe quickly condemned the political violence, although a motive for the attack was not immediately clear.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned what she described as a “despicable attack”.

“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” von der Leyen said in an X post.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called the incident “shocking”.

“I wish the prime minister a speedy recovery. We cannot tolerate violence, it has no place in society,” she said.

The Czech Republic and Slovakia formed Czechoslovakia until 1992.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on social media network X: “Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.”