Premier stable after surgery

Fico assassin “dreamed” of death and revolution

The 71-year-old assassin during his arrest

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/AFP/RTVS)

Little is known about Robert Fico's assassin. According to eyewitness reports, he is said to have mingled with the Slovakian prime minister's supporters and waited for him. The motive for the attack is completely unclear, but the 71-year-old writer is said to have repeatedly expressed his contempt for the left-wing populist head of government on social media. The head of government was operated on until late in the evening, after which his condition is said to have been "stable".

As the weekly magazine "Plus 7 Dni" reported, 71-year-old Juraj C. is one of the founding members of the DÚHA literary club. In one of his numerous poems, C. himself wrote about death and revolution. One passage reads: "In my dreams, my hands hurt because of the handcuffs. (...) In my dreams the police were looking for me. (...) In my dreams, I was in prison for seven years."

Fizo was operated on for hours after the attack, and in the evening his deputy Tomas Taraba gave the all-clear: "As far as I know, the operation went well - and I think he will survive in the end." There was no official statement from the hospital at first, according to reports, a news blackout was imposed.

The 71-year-old assassin during his arrest

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/AFP/RTVS)

According to Medium, attack announced in video
According to the news platform "Aktuality", the assassin C. had even published a video beforehand in which he announced an attack because he did not agree with Fico's policies. The 71-year-old is said to have legally possessed the murder weapon. In 2016, as an employee of a private security company in a shopping center, he was himself the victim of an assassination attempt. He was then granted permission to own weapons, it was reported on Wednesday evening.

Prime Minister Robert Fico is polarizing because of his authoritarian course.

(Bild: AFP)

"Climate of hostility": Fico warned against violence
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok explained that the authorities were assuming a political motive. Just a few days ago, Fico had accused the liberal opposition of creating a "climate of hostility" against the government. It could not be ruled out that an act of violence would occur at some point in such a climate.

The founder and leader of the left-wing party Smer-SSD, which has recently become increasingly nationalistic, has been one of Slovakia's most popular politicians for almost 30 years. At the same time, however, he polarizes Slovakian society like no other. Opponents call him "pro-Russian" and accuse him of wanting to lead Slovakia on a similar course to Viktor Orbán's Hungary.

Police officers and media representatives in front of the hospital where the Prime Minister is lying.

(Bild: APA/AP)

The hospital where Robert Fico is being treated is under strict police protection.

(Bild: APA/AP)

In the wake of the attack, individual politicians from the governing parties accused the opposition of being partly responsible for the act of violence, which was met with protests. "It is a terrible disappointment for me personally that our joint efforts to belong to the civilized world of the most developed countries have been fruitless," said the Interior Minister. It was now the common task of everyone in Slovakia to put an immediate end to the spread of political hatred.

Parliament session postponed, even demonstration canceled
Liberal opposition leader Michal Šimečka canceled all planned political actions for an indefinite period on Wednesday evening. This also applies to a demonstration against the government in Bratislava planned for Wednesday evening, he told journalists in parliament. A parliamentary session scheduled for Wednesday had already been interrupted for an indefinite period.