- Robert Fico blamed the opposition, independent media and foreign agents for his attempted murder
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to his duties on July 9 following almost two months of absence due to the coronavirus. attack that occurred on May 15 in which he was seriously injured.
“Dear media, progressive liberals and opposition, I apologize for having survived, but I am back,” Fico wrote on his Facebook profile, along with a photo from his office.
Fico blamed the liberal opposition, independent media and foreign agents for his assassination attempt, arguing that they had created an atmosphere of hatred by encouraging massive anti-government protests.
Fico, who walked with the help of a crutch, avoided journalists upon his arrival at the government headquarters, where he chaired a meeting of his team, according to information from the Slovak daily Sme. This media reported that the head of state will lead a meeting of the Council of Ministers on July 10.
The assassination attempt on the Slovak Prime Minister
On 15 May 2024, the 59-year-old Slovak Prime Minister was shot several times as he was leaving a government meeting. The attacker was a 71-year-old man who, following being arrested, claimed that he did so because he did not like Fico’s policies.
Robert Fico’s Policies
Since returning to power following winning the elections in September 2023, Fico has stopped providing military aid to Ukraine by Slovakia to defend itself once morest the invasion of Russia, with whom it is promoting a “peace negotiation”.
His government also dissolved the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and pushed through a radical reform of the penal code, which the opposition interprets as an “amnesty for oligarchs close to power.” Fico also dismantled public radio and television and replaced it with another entity that will be subject to greater government control.
He also announced a bill to limit the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The EFE news agency reported that Fico was attacked when he approached to greet a group of citizens who were outside the cultural center in the town of Handlova, where the Council of Ministers held a meeting.
“There was an attempted murder once morest R. Fico. He was shot several times and is currently in critical condition. The next few hours will be decisive,” said a statement on Fico’s official Facebook page on the day of the attack.
The Slovak prime minister was flown by helicopter to the town of Banská Bystrica. The political leader was not taken to the capital Bratislava because immediate intervention was needed and Handlova is regarding two hours’ drive from that city.
According to doctors, the Slovak Prime Minister was wounded in the abdomen and limbs.
The politician had to undergo emergency surgery and following several weeks in intensive care he left the hospital at the end of May and appeared in public for the first time on Friday, July 5.
About the attacker
Police arrested the shooter, identified as 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, at the scene of the attack. According to authorities, the man fired at least four shots at the president.
According to the police spokeswoman, the officers restrained the attacker and then put him in a car. The newspaper Pravda He explained that the attacker was walking around the cultural center, where the government meeting was held.
The prosecution has charged the attacker with attempted murder with premeditation, which carries a sentence of between 25 years and life imprisonment.
The attacker took part in anti-government protests and following his arrest admitted that his attack had been motivated by his opposition to the government leader’s policies, including his decision to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.
Cintula said in his statement that he only wanted to hurt the prime minister, which is why he disagreed with being charged with attempted murder.
He admitted to having acted in an unacceptable manner and said that he would “never once more” resort to violence to resolve his “impotence and frustration,” the newspaper reported. Pravdawho cited the order for preventive detention issued once morest him by the investigating judge.
Measures taken following the assassination of the Slovak Prime Minister
Following the attack, the Slovak government announced that it would implement a package of measures to ensure better security for the country’s top political representatives.
Legislation is also expected to be passed to safeguard the right of reply in the media in a context of tension between the government and the press, which has led the State to declare an information embargo on newspapers. Denik N y SME or the digital portal News.
The attack on Fico took place in a context of social and political polarization, which has been exacerbated in recent months due to several controversies adopted by the government.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-10 02:09:35
