The Slovak Interior Minister, Matus Sutaj Estok, announced Thursday the indictment for “attempted murder” of the alleged shooter, “a lone wolf” who shot and wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico. For his part, the elected president of Slovakia called on Thursday to “suspend” the European election campaign.
The Slovak president-elect called, Thursday, May 16, to “suspend” the June European campaign in a country undermined by tensions, the day after an attack described as “political” against Prime Minister Robert Fico, who is still in “serious condition”.
Targeted on Wednesday, the 59-year-old leader underwent a five-hour operation at Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica, in the center of the country, where he was transported by helicopter.
The alleged assailant, a 71-year-old man identified by Slovak media as a local writer, was indicted on Thursday for “attempted murder with premeditation”, announced Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, referring to an attack “motivated by political considerations”.
“He was a lone wolf” who decided to take action “after the results of the presidential election, with which he was unhappy,” he said.
Faced with tensions in the political class, Peter Pellegrini, a long-time ally of Robert Fico, urged the parties to “temporarily suspend” the campaign in view of the election scheduled for June 8.
Robert Fico is in “really very serious” condition, suffering from “multiple injuries”, and will remain in intensive care, according to hospital director Miriam Lapunikova.
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