Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, was gravely injured in a shooting incident in May, leaving him with lasting health complications. The attack occurred while Fico was greeting supporters in the town of Handlová.
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kaliňák provided updates on Fico’s condition, indicating that while the Prime Minister’s health is improving, he will likely endure musculoskeletal problems for the foreseeable future. Kaliňák emphasized that Fico’s health remains unstable, particularly due to the severity of the gunshot wound to his abdomen.
“His health is still far from ideal. After a gunshot wound to the abdomen, those organs don’t work the way they did when you were 17 or 30. It’s still very erratic. As part of his regular rehab, doctors are doing everything they can to make sure he can do his job to his full potential, and we’re getting close to that,” said Kaliňák.
Fico is expected to make a public appearance soon, although it remains uncertain whether this will be in person or via video link. This announcement marks a significant improvement from Fico’s own assessment in early June, where he expressed skepticism about returning to work within several weeks.
The incident that led to Fico’s current condition occurred on May 15, after a government meeting in Handlová. Fico was shot at close range while interacting with supporters. Videos from the scene showed him reaching out to shake hands when a man stepped forward, fired five shots, and was subsequently subdued and arrested.
Fico underwent an initial five-hour surgery to address multiple wounds, followed by a two-hour surgery two days later to remove dead tissue. He was later transferred from a hospital in Banská Bystrica to Bratislava, where he continued his recovery at home.
Despite the traumatic experience, Fico has expressed forgiveness towards his assailant. “I will not take any active legal action against him or seek damage compensation. I forgive him and let him sort out what he did and why he did it in his own head,” he stated.
The attack prompted a swift response from the Slovak parliament. Within a week, all 130 MPs present passed a resolution urging political parties, civic organizations, and media to respect election results and avoid inciting hatred against the democratically-elected government. This resolution came amid concerns that a toxic political environment contributed to the attack on Fico’s life.
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