May 31st 2024.
After surviving an assassination attempt, Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, has been discharged from the hospital and is now recovering at home. The director of the hospital where Fico was treated, Miriam Lapunikova, announced on Friday that he is doing well and is a "disciplined patient". Fico, who lives in the capital city of Bratislava, was transported from the central city of Banska Bystrica to his home for further recovery.
The attack on Fico occurred on May 15 while he was greeting supporters in the town of Handlova, about 140 km northeast of Bratislava. Video footage captured the moment when a man approached Fico and opened fire, before being taken down by police. Fico underwent a five-hour surgery to treat multiple gunshot wounds and then underwent another two-hour surgery to remove dead tissue from his wounds.
The suspect, who has been charged with attempted murder, has been ordered to remain in custody by the country's Specialised Criminal Court in Pezinok. Prosecutors have requested that the suspect's identity and details about the case not be released to the public. Initially, government officials believed that the attack was politically motivated and carried out by a "lone wolf". However, they later revealed that a "third party" may have been involved, "acting for the benefit of the perpetrator".
Critics have raised concerns about Fico's government, particularly in regards to his plans to overhaul public broadcasting and amend the penal code to remove a special anti-corruption prosecutor. These actions have led to fears that Fico may be leading Slovakia towards a more autocratic path. However, the prime minister has denied these allegations and continues to focus on his recovery.
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