Slovakia PM in critical condition after escaping assassination attempt

Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, is fighting for his life at the hospital after escaping an assassination attempt.

Fico was shot five times in the central town of Handlova on Wednesday after he left a government meeting.

The 59-year-old was in critical condition and underwent several hours of emergency surgery.

Newly elected President Peter Pellegrini said Fico “escaped death by just a hair” after visiting him on Thursday at FD Roosevelt University Hospital.

Pellegrini said the situation remains “very critical,” but he was able to speak to Fico for a few minutes in the hospital.

He said if the “gunshot wounds were just a few millimetres either side, we would be talking about him as the late prime minister”.

“He is living the worst hours and days of his life,” Pellegrini said, expressing hope that the prime minister can recover from his injuries.

“I hope that in the coming days, the prime minister will be able to make decisions, but in the meantime, the deputy prime minister will take over his duties,” he said.

Matus Stuaj-Estok, the interior minister, confirmed the arrest of the suspect accused of shooting Fico, adding that he has been charged with attempted murder.

Speaking during a news conference of the Slovak security council, Stuaj-Estok said the attempt on Fico’s life was “politically motivated”.

The minister said the suspect, who is believed to be 71, was a “lone wolf”, who did not belong to any political party but had previously taken part in anti-government protests.