Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

'Worst fears have passed' for shot Slovakian PM Robert Fico

Flowers are placed outside the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, Saturday, May 18, 2024
Flowers are placed outside the F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, Saturday, May 18, 2024 Copyright  Lefteris Pitarakis/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.
Copyright Lefteris Pitarakis/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.
By Daniel Bellamy with AP
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Prime Minister Robert Fico remains "serious", but worst fears have "passed", the country's defence minister told journalists on Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

The condition of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico remains "serious" but worst fears have "passed", the country's defence minister told journalists on Sunday.

Fico, 59, was shot in the abdomen as he greeted supporters following a government meeting Wednesday in the former coal mining town of Handlova, in an attack that sent shockwaves across the deeply polarized European Union nation.

"I think that the worst of what we feared has passed, at least for the moment,” Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak told reporters outside the hospital where Fico is being treated.

“But his condition remains serious,” he added.

Fico had two hours of surgery on Friday to remove dead tissue from his gunshot wounds and he is still not healthy enough to travel to a hospital in the capital, Bratislava, ministers said.

The man accused of attempting to assassinate Fico was ordered to remain behind bars on Saturday, after prosecutors said they feared he could flee or carry out other crimes if set free.

The suspect can appeal the order to the Supreme Court.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Peter Pellegrini is sworn in as Slovakia's new president

Slovakian parliament unanimously approves resolution against political hatred

Power restored to Ukraine's Odesa following major Russian attack on energy infrastructure