Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, who opposes military aid to Ukraine, delivered his first speech since surviving an assassination attempt three weeks ago, Associated Press reports.
Fico, who was shot in the abdomen on May 15 in Handlova, is recovering from multiple surgeries and believes his stance against the European mainstream on Ukraine and Russia made him a target. However, he expressed no malice towards the shooter and forgave him, attributing the attack to political hatred. The assailant, arrested and unnamed, is charged with attempted murder, with authorities suspecting a “third party” involvement. Fico criticized opposition and Western countries for stifling differing opinions within the EU. He also highlighted his government’s stance against EU sanctions on Russia and Ukraine joining NATO.
Fico’s SMER party, which won the recent parliamentary elections, has faced criticism for trying to overhaul public broadcasting and plans to amend the penal code, raising concerns about a shift towards autocracy similar to Hungary under Viktor Orbán. These policies have sparked widespread protests in Slovakia.
