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Journalism of Courage
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting on Wednesday afternoon and has been hospitalized. According to the Slovak government office, he is in a life-threatening situation.
According to TA3, a Slovakian TV station, the 59-year-old Prime Minister was shot in the stomach after four shots were fired outside the House of Culture in Handlova, approximately 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of the capital. Fico was meeting with supporters at the time of the incident. A suspect has been detained, the report said.
Police have sealed off the area, and Fico was transported to a hospital in Banska Bystrica for treatment.
The incident comes just three weeks before the critical European Parliament elections, where populist and hard-right parties in the 27-nation bloc are expected to make significant gains.
Fico, a third-time premier, and his leftist the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer) party, won Slovakia’s September 30, 2023 parliamentary elections, staging a political comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian and anti-American message.
Critics worried that Slovakia under Fico would abandon the country’s pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico’s policies.
The 2023 win marks Fico’s fourth term in office, having previously held the position from 2006 to 2010, from 2012 to 2018, and again from 2023. Fico’s political career is notable for his record as the longest-serving prime minister in Slovakia’s history, with over ten years in the role.
Fico entered the political arena in 1992, when he was first elected to the Slovak Parliament while the country was still part of Czechoslovakia.
His early career saw him appointed to the Council of Europe, where he gained valuable political experience. In 1999, Fico founded the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer) party, a political movement that he has led since its inception.
Fico’s rise to power was marked by his party’s victory in the 2006 parliamentary election, leading to the formation of his first cabinet. His political stance has often been described as populist, appealing to a broad base of voters with a mix of social welfare policies and nationalistic rhetoric.
Following the 2010 parliamentary election, Fico transitioned to a role as an opposition member of parliament, effectively becoming the leader of the opposition. His political resilience was demonstrated in 2012 when a motion of no confidence against the Iveta Radičová cabinet led to early elections. Fico’s Smer party won a landslide victory, securing 83 seats and forming a government with an absolute majority, the first such majority in Slovakia since the fall of communism in 1989.
In 2013, Fico declared his candidacy for the 2014 presidential election. However, he was defeated by his political rival Andrej Kiska in the second round of voting. Despite this setback, Fico remained a significant figure in Slovak politics.
Fico’s third term as prime minister came to an abrupt end in March 2018 amid a political crisis following the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak. The crisis led to widespread protests and calls for government accountability. In response, Fico resigned and was succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini.
The 2023 parliamentary election marked Fico’s return to power. His campaign focused on ceasing military support to Ukraine amidst its invasion by Russia, a stance that resonated with a significant portion of the electorate. Smer won the most votes in the election, with 22.95% and 42 seats. Fico formed a coalition government with Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas) and the Slovak National Party, beginning his fourth term as prime minister on October 25, 2023.
In his current term, Fico’s government has taken a controversial stance on international issues, notably refusing to join a Czech-led coalition of about 20 states in providing military aid to Ukraine. This position reflects Fico’s focus on national priorities and his skepticism towards foreign military engagements.
