Fico fought for his life after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handrowa on Wednesday, but regained consciousness after hours of surgery, according to local media. Doctors reportedly removed part of Pico’s small intestine due to severe intra-abdominal bleeding.
The Slovak Security Council will convene an extraordinary session on Thursday, the government office announced. The Slovak cabinet will also hold a meeting.
Before Taraba’s update, Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák told media outside the Banská Bystrica hospital where Fico was being treated that the prime minister was “fighting for his life.” “We’re hoping he’s strong enough to succeed,” he added.
The populist prime minister won general elections in September and has faced widespread criticism for political polarization in the central European country, including his pro-Russian rhetoric and his push for greater state control of the media.
Last month, Fico’s ally Peter Pellegrini won Slovakia’s presidential runoff, giving Fico’s ruling coalition full control of the government’s executive and legislative branches.
The culprit was identified locally as a 71-year-old poet. The media released a leaked video of the suspect, in which he reportedly said, “I do not agree with this government’s politics,” referring to the suppression of the press and judiciary.
