Slovakia

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Slovakia’s populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday, but his deputy prime minister said he believed Fico would survive.

https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-prime-minister-shooting-robert-fico-handlova-bdaaf0bba01035a700145a67d871a482?

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Slovakia’s prime minister is expected to survive assassination attempt, deputy says Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday, but his deputy prime minister, Tomas Taraba, said he believed Fico would survive. The prime minister had been greeting supporters at an event when the attempted assassination took place, shocking the small country and reverberating across Europe weeks before an election. Read more.

Key developments: Fico is in stable but serious condition, a hospital official said. Doctors fought for Fico’s life several hours after the leader, 59, was shot in the abdomen multiple times while attending a meeting of his government in the town of 16,000 that was once a center of coal mining.   A suspect was in custody, and an initial investigation found “a clear political motivation” behind the assassination attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said as he briefed reporters alongside the defense minister.   Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and after his election victory, thousands repeatedly took to the streets there to rally against his policies. His return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message led to even greater worries among fellow European Union members that he would lead his country further from the Western mainstream.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Who is Robert Fico, the populist Slovak prime minister wounded in a shooting?   Shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico sends shockwaves across Europe   WATCH: Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico shot multiple times in attempted assassination

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Slovak authorities charge ‘lone wolf’ with assassination attempt on the prime minister

BANSKA BYSTRICA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovak authorities charged a man Thursday with attempting to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico, saying he acted alone in a politically motivated attack that left the longtime leader in serious but stable condition.

https://apnews.com/article/slovakia-prime-minister-shooting-fico-23faba11c0f371ef0f69a34861337ae0?