After an attack in Slovakia
Fico makes a remarkable first statement
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Robert Fico addresses the public directly for the first time in a video message. In a statement, the Slovakian head of government initially forgives the man who almost killed him. Then the controversial politician uses the opportunity to lash out violently against the opposition.
Following the assassination attempt by a 71-year-old, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico says he will gradually return to work around the turn of the next month. The 59-year-old announced this in a longer video message. Fico, who barely survived the attack, spoke of a “small miracle” in this context.
The left-wing populist also announced that he would “take the first step. And that is forgiveness.” He feels no hatred “for the stranger who shot at me. I will not take legal action against him or seek compensation,” Fico said in his first public statement since the attack.
Instead, the head of government wanted to let the amateur writer, who attacked and almost killed him out of dissatisfaction with his politics, “clarify in his own head what he did and why he did it.” Fico also used the video message to lash out violently against the Slovak opposition and make serious accusations.
“In the end, it is obvious,” said Fico, that the man “was just a messenger of evil and political hatred, which the politically unsuccessful and frustrated opposition in Slovakia developed to unmanageable proportions.” It is also to be expected that the “anti-government media, foreign-funded political non-governmental organizations and the opposition” will begin to downplay the assassination attempt. Fico said he had no reason to believe that it was the work of a single madman.
Head of government warned against murdering politicians
In April, Fico shared his assessment on Facebook that rising tensions in Slovakia could lead to the murder of politicians. He accused the media of stoking tensions. Fico has long been controversial. His government has taken steps to reform public broadcasting. Critics fear that this would give the government full control over public television and radio. Fico's plans to revise the criminal code also raised concerns that he was pursuing an autocratic course.
Fico is also criticized for being pro-Russian – something he defends himself against. In the past, the 59-year-old had opposed aid to Ukraine. The Slovakian head of government also commented on this rejection in his current video message. He claimed that the EU and NATO would only allow one opinion, namely “to continue the war in Ukraine at all costs in order to weaken the Russian Federation.”
Fico was shot in the stomach area in May outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova. Video footage showed him approaching onlookers behind barriers and wanting to shake hands. Then a man stepped forward, extended his arm and fired shots. The attacker later said, among other things, that he had attacked Fico because of his refusal to provide further military aid to Ukraine.
