Slovakian PM Fico Shot, in Stable Condition

Facts

• Following an attempt on his life by a gunman Wednesday, Slovakian Prime Minister (PM) Robert Fico is expected to survive, said Deputy PM Tomáš Taraba on Thursday. The news follows Fico's surgery, which Taraba said went 'well.'¹
• After exiting a government meeting in the town of Handlova, Fico was shot multiple times and seriously wounded as he greeted a crowd of people. He was airlifted to the regional capital, Banska Bystrica, for treatment.²
• Slovakian Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said the assassination attempt would be investigated 'as quickly as possible.'³
• A 71-year-old writer and former security guard has reportedly been charged with attempted murder, with local reports saying the suspect acted alone and had participated in anti-government protests before.⁴
• While Fico ally Andrej Danko, who leads the Slovak National Party — part of the nation's ruling coalition — blamed the opposition for the shooting, opposition Progressive Slovakia party leader Michal Šimečka said, 'We unequivocally condemn any violence.'⁵
• While it's unknown whether someone will temporarily replace Fico, he can appoint one of his deputies to take charge until he's recovered.⁶

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Reuters.com, ³New York Times, ⁴Al Jazeera, ⁵American Spectator and ⁶Europeanconservative.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Guardian. This horrifying news is part of a growing trend of political violence across the European political spectrum. From the shooting of the founder of Spain's right-wing Vox Party to the physical harassment of a German Green Party member, the intensifying social division is now playing out before our eyes. Extremist ideologies of all sorts must be quelled, or else more violence will occur.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by RT International. The incessant attacks on Fico, from EU officials making political threats to today's shooting, are coming from those who are against the prime minister due to his desire to break away from the West's stronghold and maintain peace with Russia. Many of those opposed to EU- and NATO-skeptics like Fico have fostered an environment that allowed this act of violence to unfold.