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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and injured on Wednesday in the town of Handlová, according to politicians and local media.
Witnesses said several shots were fired at Fico, 59, as he was greeting people following a government meeting, the country’s national news agency TASR and other local media reported.
He was still alive following the shooting, said an EU official, who asked not to be named. The nationalist leader was rushed to hospital, media reports said.
A suspect was detained following the shooting outside the house of culture in Handlová, which is about 150km from the capital, said local media. The country’s parliament suspended its session.
The shooting comes at a time of deep polarisation in Slovakia, and some politicians from Fico’s coalition were quick to blame the opposition for provoking the attack.
Deputy prime minister Tomáš Taraba said that “the entire hateful opposition has bloody fingers”.
Michal Šimečka, leader of the country’s liberal opposition, said on social media site X: “We absolutely and strongly condemn the violence and today’s shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. We believe he will be fine.
“At the same time, we call on all politicians to refrain from any statements and actions that may contribute to the escalation of tension.”
Fico began his fourth term in office last October at the helm of a three-way Eurosceptic coalition that has been calling for the EU to lift its sanctions placed on Russia over Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It also wants the bloc to take tough measures against migration.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said: “I strongly condemn the vile attack.”
“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” she added. “My thoughts are with PM Fico and his family.”
This is a developing story
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