Slovakia's Prime Minister Critically Wounded in Assassination Attempt: ‘The Next Few Hours Will Decide’

Prime Minister Robert Fico was reportedly shot multiple times on Wednesday, May 15, and airlifted to a hospital

Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico is in critical condition after he was wounded in a shooting following a political event on Wednesday, May 15, according to multiple outlets.

A post on his official Facebook page described the incident as an “assassination attempt,” and said that Fico had been "shot multiple times and is currently in life-threatening condition."

Officials also said in the post that he was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia — which is approximately 20 miles from the area — in order to get him quick treatment.

They ended the post noting that the “next few hours will decide" his fate.

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The incident happened during an off-site government meeting in Handlova, Slovakia, according to CNN. The suspected gunman had been amongst a crowd on the street waiting to greet the prime minister outside where the meeting occurred, per the outlet.

After the shooting, Fico was seen being moved by staff into a car that immediately sped away, according to CNN, which reviewed the footage.

Slovak Labor Minister Erik Tomáš told the outlet that no one else was injured in the attack.

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Following the news, Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová shared in a news conference, per ABC News: “A physical attack on the prime minister is, first of all, an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy. Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we’ve been witnessing in society leads to hateful actions. Please, let’s stop it.”

She also shared, per CNN, that the suspected gunman was detained by police, and that law enforcement agencies would release more information soon.

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok wrote on Facebook that “Slovakia is experiencing the worst day of its democracy as he vowed to have the situation investigated promptly.

“For the first time in the 31 years of our democratic sovereign republic, it happened that someone decided to express a political opinion not in an election, but with a gun on the street," he said.

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The news also prompted reactions from several world leaders. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Shocked and appalled by the shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico. I wish him strength for a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia.”

Stoltenberg’s sentiments were also shared by Estonia President Kaja Kallas who wrote on X, “Deeply shocked by the assassination attempt of Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico. An attack against an elected leader is also an attack against the very idea of democracy. I wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

Fico founded the left-wing Direction—Social Democracy party, also known as Smer, in 1999. Under that affiliation he has served three stints as Slovakia’s prime minister, first from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2018. He assumed the position most recently in October 2023.

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