The tried assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday (Might 15) highlighted the deep divisions in Slovak society, which the federal government has solely additional polarized.
On Wednesday afternoon, Robert Fico (SMER-SD, European Socialists and Democrats) was shot and brought to a hospital the place he underwent a protracted operation.
Many European leaders rapidly condemned this act of violence and confirmed their help for the chief, repeatedly criticized for his pro-Russian positions, his assaults on the media and NGOs, and the legal guidelines that his authorities is making an attempt to go. regardless of criticism from the European Fee.
These embody payments that will considerably scale back jail sentences for corruption, the designation of NGOs as “foreign-supported organizations” and strengthening authorities management over the general public broadcaster RTVS.
A tense political local weather
The political local weather in Slovakia has been notably tense since 2018, the 12 months of homicide of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírováwhich gave rise to one of many largest protests within the nation’s fashionable historical past and compelled Robert Fico to resign.
When he was re-elected for a fourth time period as prime minister final October, tensions rose additional, together with his authorities often attacking the media and NGOs and displaying overtly pro-Russian attitudes.
The choices and rhetoric of the brand new Fico authorities have led to quite a few protests and petitions from the opposition and civil society since December final 12 months.
These tensions have been exacerbated after the April presidential election. Robert Fico then mocked voters of the failed opposition candidate, pro-Western diplomat Ivan Korčok, saying they have been infantile for not accepting the outcomes, which his coalition companion, Peter Pellegrini, received .
Slovak sociologist Michal Vašečka then defined to the every day Diary of N that the election outcomes would improve the polarization of Slovak society.
Robert Fico himself acknowledged this development in direction of polarization in a video the place he expressed fears {that a} member of his authorities could be killed, predicting that the frustration of his opponents may result in a tragic consequence.
“They’re obscenely cursing authorities politicians within the streets and I’m simply ready to see when this frustration, so intensely deepened by Diary of NMichal Šimečka [leader de l’opposition libérale] et Aktuality.sk [site d’information]will end result within the homicide of one of many fundamental political leaders of the federal government »he stated.
In line with consultants, Wednesday’s assassination try may intensify the « radicalisation » of the political class.
“I concern that this assault won’t be the final and that members of the opposition will in flip be focused within the close to future”commented forAFP le politologue Miroslav Radek.
Opposition reactions
The outgoing president, the liberal Zuzana Čaputová, against Robert Fico, strongly condemned the assault “brutal and cruel” on Wednesday, whereas the opposition events Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) and Progressive Slovakia (PS) canceled an illustration that was deliberate for Wednesday to protest in opposition to the controversial reform of RTVS.
After condemning the assault, Michal Šimečka, chief of progressive Slovakia, additionally referred to as “all political leaders to chorus from any declaration or motion prone to contribute to the escalation of tensions”.
The president of the SaS, Branislav Gröhling, for his half referred to as on the deputies to not blame themselves for the state of affairs, whereas the Christian Democratic Motion (KDH), a conservative opposition celebration, launched a name for unit.
“We should all unite in opposition to any act of violence. The assault on the Prime Minister is an assault on the Slovak state and its sovereignty. At this second, it’s essential to do all the pieces to calm society”declared the KDH in a press launch.
However calls from the opposition, often very crucial of Mr. Fico, appear to have gone unheeded, with the tone rapidly rising throughout the ruling coalition.
Reactions from the ruling coalition
When the deputy speaker of the Slovak parliament Ľuboš Blaha heard the information of the assassination try, he instantly suspended the parliamentary session and shouted on the opposition: ” It is your fault “.
In line with Andrej Danko, Robert Fico’s coalition companion and chief of the ultranationalist Slovak Nationwide Get together (SNS), it’s clear that that is the results of social battle.
“I nonetheless do not wish to consider that anybody in society is keen to cross such boundaries. It’s apparent to me that that is the results of social battle, and that it should cease.”he defined.
He added that for his celebration, “a political conflict begins”asserting modifications in relations with the media and political leaders of the previous authorities.
The winner of the presidential elections, Peter Pellegrini, chief of the HLAS-Social Democracy celebration who will probably be sworn in on June 15, described the assassination try as an unprecedented menace to Slovak democracy.
“If we specific our political views with weapons within the squares as a substitute of within the polling stations, we endanger all the pieces we’ve constructed collectively in 31 years of Slovak sovereignty. »
If Robert Fico have been to stay unable to hold out his duties for an prolonged interval, he could possibly be changed by one of many deputy prime ministers.
The absence of the Prime Minister is partially lined by the Slovak regulation on competences, which supplies that on this case he’s represented by a Deputy Prime Minister appointed by him. The latter then convenes and chairs cupboard conferences.
The Slovak authorities at the moment has 4 deputy prime ministers: Robert Kaliňák (SMER), Minister of Protection, Denisa Sakova (HLAS), Minister of Economic system, Peter Kmec (HLAS), Vice-President of the Restoration Plan, and Tomas Taraba (SNS), Minister of the Setting.
Robert Kaliňák appears to be the most probably choice to fill the interim function.
Name to droop the electoral marketing campaign
Peter Pellegrini referred to as on all Slovak events on Thursday (16 Might) to droop or decelerate their electoral marketing campaign forward of the European elections.
“I name on all Slovak political events to quickly droop or considerably scale back [leurs activités de] marketing campaign for the European elections »declared Mr. Pellegrini in a press launch, including that Slovakia ought to keep away from “all new confrontation” et “mutual accusations”.
He additionally urged opinion formers and the media, insisting that politicians shouldn’t use the assassination try to attain political factors and additional entrench the nation’s polarization.
“If there’s one factor that the Slovak folks urgently want in the present day, it’s at the very least a primary consensus of Slovak political illustration. And if not a consensus, then at the very least a civilized dialogue”he insisted.
The President-elect and outgoing President Ms. Čaputová agreed to collectively invite all celebration leaders of the parliament to the Presidential Palace shortly.
The latter additionally described the assassination of Robert Fico as a person act, however added that the duty for hatred in society lay with all residents. She additionally referred to as for “get out of the vicious circle of hatred”experiences theAFP.
The attacker
The shooter, a author, poet and member of the Slovak Writers’ Affiliation, was charged with tried premeditated homicide and faces 25 years in jail or life imprisonment if convicted.
The crime might have been politically motivated, in keeping with a video displaying the attacker on the police station saying he didn’t agree with authorities coverage.
“I don’t agree with authorities coverage”the shooter might be heard saying.
The 71-year-old additionally alludes to the much-criticized reform of the Slovak public broadcaster RTVS and to the President of the Judicial Council of the Slovak Republic, Ján Mazák, who was just lately dismissed from his place.
“He was a lone wolf” who determined to take motion “after the outcomes of the presidential election, with which he was sad”specified Inside Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, cited byAFP.
At the moment, Robert Fico is reportedly nonetheless in critical situation and is in intensive care.
[Édité par Anne-Sophie Gayet]