Slovakia's prime minister in 'life-threatening condition' after being shot
Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico is in a 'life-threatening condition' after being wounded in a shooting, according to his Facebook profile.
The message posted to his account just before 4pm on Wednesday (just before midnight AEST) said that Fico "has been shot multiple times and is currently in life-threatening condition".
"At this moment he is transported by helicopter to Banská Bystrica [a city in central Slovakia], because it would take too long to get to Bratislava due to the necessity of an acute procedure," the message said.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for a cabinet's away-from-home session in the town of Handlova, Slovakia, on Wednesday, May, 15, 2024. (AP)
Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, who was shot and wounded on Wednesday, is a burly and brash political veteran known for his attacks on the media, NGOs and prosecutors.
Having enjoyed three previous stints as prime minister, Fico, 59, is well known to voters and observers – and critics, who accuse him of seeking to emulate Viktor Orbán, his friend in neighbouring Hungary, by trying to undermine checks and balances and cement his power while also taking a friendlier stance toward Russia.
He is borrowing from Trump’: the rise of Robert Fico, Slovakia’s populist leader
The Drive for War Craig Murray. “Can you imagine the outrage and emotion that would have been expressed by Western powers if not Fico but a pro-Ukraine, anti-Russian leader within the EU had been attacked?”
Crosshairs New Left Review. On Robert Fico
Russian Disinfo Campaign Blames Ukraine for Shooting of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Wired but Zelenskyy comments on Slovakian PM’s scorn for Slovaks who raised money for shells for UkraineUkrainska Pravda. Personally, since Ukraine says Russia did it, I assume Ukraine did it