Slovakia’s prime minister remained in hospital in serious condition as of Thursday, more than a week after a failed assassination attempt on his life. Calls for political unity following the attack have given way to renewed hostility in the polarized Central European country.
On May 15, Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times at close range in Handlova, a small town in central Slovakia. assassination attempt It was the worst attack on a European leader in decades and sent shockwaves through Europe.
Mr. Fico has undergone several surgeries since the shooting. On Thursday, the government said he was being treated at a hospital in the central city of Banská Bystrica and his condition “remains serious but stable.”
Even before Mr Fico was shot, Slovakia Serious division There is a divide between supporters of his right-wing nationalist and anti-immigration policies and opponents who accuse him of eroding democracy. The shooting prompted Slovak officials to call on political parties to urgently ease tensions, with some even warning of the risk of civil war.
But attempts to cool things down appear to have failed as the country returns to political business as usual.
Much of the hostility centers on a controversial bill the government is pushing through parliament that would give it control of the public broadcaster.
Fizo’s government has been accused by critics of stoking tensions and angering the media. Fizo’s government seeks an overhaul of the broadcaster to remove what his party sees as unfair bias in favor of political opponents.
The legislation is part of a package of measures that includes curbs on corruption investigations and what critics call Russian-style restrictions on non-governmental organizations, which the European Commission said in February could cause “irreparable damage” to the rule of law in Slovakia.
The bill was being debated in the Slovak parliament on the day Mr Fizo was shot. The attack led to the prorogation of Parliament, which resumes this week.
On Tuesday, its first task was to approve a resolution condemned the attack on Mr Fico and urged political parties and the media not to “spread hatred”.
On Wednesday, parliament considered a draft bill on the broadcaster. The bill passed its first reading. 77 MPs voted in favor 53 voted against. The bill still needs to be approved on at least one more reading and signed by the president before it becomes law.
Michal Simecka, chairman of the opposition Slovak Progress Party, welcomed the government’s call to suspend campaigning for next month’s European Parliament elections to “calm the situation.” But he attacked Fico’s government over the bill, calling it a “bad law” that “goes against the public interest and violates European rules”.
He urged the government to withdraw the proposed legislation and “stop dangerous efforts” to control television and radio in Slovakia.
The country’s outgoing president, Zuzana Caputova, and Peter Pellegrini, who will replace her in June, have openly invited the leaders of Slovakia’s main political parties to a meeting to “calm the situation.”
Pellegrini said on Sunday that the past few days “show that some politicians are simply unable to engage in basic self-reflection even after such a huge tragedy”. A very long video The comments, posted on social media, did not name anyone. “It’s as if they don’t realize that their past actions, comments and disgusting attacks – not on political views but on their supporters – have seriously exacerbated tensions in our society.”
The meeting was ultimately canceled this week. “Due to the public statements of some leaders,” according to local news media.
Interior Minister Matous Sutaj Estok insisted the government was committed to building political peace, but he said on Thursday the old feud would not be forgotten.
“We do not want to exacerbate tensions within society. But we certainly will not forget what led us to this state,” he wrote In a post on Facebookwhich appeared to be an attack on critics of the government.
Opponents of Fizo believe that some of Fizo’s plans are attempts to Returning Slovakia to the days of Soviet oppression.
Fico previously served as prime minister from 2006 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2018, when he was ousted following street protests over the killing of a journalist investigating government corruption. last yearhas made a remarkable comeback after campaigning on a pro-Russian stance and promising social conservatism, nationalism and generous welfare programs.
Slovak authorities have released little information about the assassination attempt, other than to say it was carried out by a politically disaffected man who became radicalized after the recent presidential election.
A 71 year old suspectAuthorities named him as Juraj C., and he faces a charge of attempted murder. Appearing before a judge The hearing was held behind closed doors in the western Slovak city of Pecinok on Saturday and he was remanded in custody. On Thursday, Slovakia’s chief prosecutor declined to say when the suspect would next appear in court.
Cassandra Winograd According to London Sarah Sinkurova From Bratislava, Slovakia
