Slovak Prime Minister
Robert Fico out of danger after assassination attempt
Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is out of danger after the assassination attempt on his life.
© Radovan Stoklasa/TASR/dpa
A 71-year-old fired several shots at Robert Fico. The Slovak Prime Minister has since been operated on twice. Now there is good news.
Urbani specified to journalists on Sunday: “Based on the advice of the medical council this morning, we can determine that the patient is currently outside of a life-threatening state. However, his condition is still very serious and he will need a long time and rest to recover .”
Kalinak, who is also Defense Minister, added that a transfer of the 59-year-old Fico to a hospital in the capital Bratislava would not be possible in the near future and therefore not planned. Kalinak continued: “We are all convinced that his physical condition is so strong that we can expect further recovery day by day, even if the road to recovery will take several weeks.”
Perpetrator acted out of hatred for Robert Fico
On Saturday, the 71-year-old assassin Juraj C. was brought to the special criminal court in the town of Pezinok for questioning under strict security precautions. The court ordered that he be remanded in custody. The reason for this is the risk of escape and further acts of violence. As court spokeswoman Katarina Kudjakova told the German Press Agency, the accused can appeal the decision.
According to previous information from the police and government, the man had shot him from close range out of hatred against Fico and his government policies. Fico went in front of a waiting crowd to shake hands after a cabinet meeting in the small town of Handlova. The interior minister said shortly after the crime, based on initial police interviews, that the perpetrator’s motive was “clearly political.”