Slovak PM Fico survives assassination bid; condition stabilises
The Slovak State Security Council and the government are scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. on Thursday, according to an announcement from the office of the Slovak Prime Minister. This meeting is being organized in the wake of the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico that took place on Wednesday.
After the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday, the National Security Council is set to gather on Thursday at 10 a.m. The government will also hold discussions, as the Government Press Office reports. This crucial meeting will occur in the nation's capital, Bratislava.
Prime Minister Fico was targeted and shot on Wednesday shortly following a government field meeting in Handlova. As the politician was approaching the barriers behind which individuals were gathered, a 71-year-old assailant amongst the crowd fired several shots at him.
Fico was promptly airlifted to a hospital in Banská Bystrica, where he underwent two surgical operations. Initial reports on Wednesday indicated that Fico's condition was life-threatening. However, Deputy Prime Minister Tomasz Taraba provided more optimistic news on Thursday, stating that although Fico's condition remains severe, it is no longer deemed life-threatening, according to a quote reported by PAP.
As per the Slovak news outlet ta3.com, the Deputy Prime Minister is supposed to act on behalf of the Prime Minister in his absence. However, this position requires a formal designation by Fico himself, which is presently impractical. Among the four deputies in the current government, Robert Kaliňák, the Minister of National Defence and a close ally of Fico, is considered the most likely interim replacement.
Fico's health status threatened after the asssasination
Robert Kaliňák, the Slovak Defence Minister and acting spokesperson regarding Fico's health, stated at a press conference held at the hospital in Banská Bystrica that Robert Fico is alive and showing signs of improvement. The Minister of Defence also mentioned his plans to attend a government meeting in Bratislava before returning to Banská Bystrica in the afternoon.
The hospital authorities have reported that Fico underwent two surgeries overnight, which lasted a total of five hours. Miriam Lapuniková, a hospital spokesperson, mentioned that the medical team succeeded in stabilizing the Prime Minister's condition, though he remains in a very serious state.
