Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in “stable but very serious” condition after assassination attempt – POLITICO

Fico was fighting for his life after being shot several times following a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlová on Wednesday, but regained consciousness after an hours-long surgery, according to media reports local. Doctors reportedly removed part of Fico’s small intestine due to heavy bleeding in his abdominal cavity.

The Government Office announced that the Security Council of Slovakia will meet for an extraordinary meeting on Thursday. The Slovak Cabinet will also meet.

Before Taraba’s update, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák told reporters outside the Banská Bystrica hospital, where Fico was being treated, that the prime minister was “fighting for his life.” He added: “We hope he will be strong enough to achieve this. »

The populist prime minister won last September’s general election and has been widely criticized for his polarizing policies in the central European country, including his pro-Russian rhetoric and his push to expand state control over the media. .

Last month, Fico ally Peter Pellegrini won a runoff election for the Slovak presidency, giving Fico’s ruling coalition full control over the executive and legislative branches of government.

The suspected shooter was identified locally as a 71-year-old poet. Media outlets published a leaked video of the suspect in which he allegedly said, “I do not agree with the policies of this government,” citing the crackdown on the media and the justice system.