Prime Minister shot: Putin’s accomplice? The attractive figure explained to Fico

Multiple shots, great chaos and an image that stays with you: in the middle of Europe, a shot head of state is dragged into a limousine by frantic bodyguards. His destiny? Insecure!

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot on Wednesday after a government meeting in the city of Handlová and is currently fighting for his life. The government said he was now conscious. A suspect has been arrested, the background is unclear. A nation is in a state of shock.

Slovakia is deeply divided
Just a few days ago, the 59-year-old left-wing nationalist accused the liberal opposition of creating a hostile environment against the government. It cannot be ruled out that this could lead to an act of violence at some point, Fico warned. Slovak political scientists recently compared the country’s social divisions with those in the US.

Alarm bells have also been ringing in the European Union since Fico took over the reins of government. But the reason for this is not the bluster of the opposition. What is more worrying in Brussels is the direction of the Fico brand, which acts as an accelerator in Slovakia.

The experienced politician – Prime Minister for the fourth time – is seen as an absolute stimulant. The controversial reform plans in recent months are modeled on authoritarian blueprints: control over the media, a weakening of anti-corruption laws and less aid for Ukraine. A policy that is meeting resistance in Slovakia.

Huge protests against Fico’s government
For example, the public television and radio broadcaster RTVS will be dissolved and transformed into a state-controlled institution called STVR. The coalition parties accuse the RTVS leadership of “not reporting objectively” and of being close to the liberal opposition.

Fico’s plans led to large protest demonstrations in Bratislava in early May. The starting point of the parades has great symbolic power. If you walk to the Slovak National Uprising Square in the capital Bratislava, you will find a memorial for the journalist Ján Kuciak, who was murdered in 2018, and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová. At this point the Fico opponents usually start marching.

Ruined reputation and an unlikely comeback
Kuciak mainly investigated the backrooms of Fico’s Smer party. The main subject of the investigation: systemic corruption and mafia-like connections with the demimonde. His death sparked the country’s largest protests since 1989. Fico himself lived next door to one of the main suspects – and became the face of a corrupt Slovakia. A system that ultimately cost human lives. The left-wing nationalist, who could not be proven personally guilty in this case, had to resign with his entire cabinet under public pressure.

The Russian war of aggression and political chaos in Slovakia paved the way for Fico’s great political comeback. During the election campaign, the gifted speaker became much sharper and addressed the financial concerns of Slovaks, sometimes driven by double-digit inflation rates. The campaign was also supported by Russian disinformation, which was especially widespread in Slovakia. A culprit for the economic misery was quickly found: Kiev. Ukraine is “one of the most corrupt countries in the world.” No one knows how much of the aid to Ukraine “disappears somewhere.”

Fico alienates his friends
Fico has already fulfilled his main election promise to end military aid to Kiev. At European level, Slovakia is increasingly acting as a blocker next to Hungary. He also questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine, which is “under US control.”

The pro-Russian line of Putin supporters in Bratislava recently prompted the Czech government to take an extraordinary step. In protest against the current rhetoric of the former sister republic, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced a temporary radio silence. There are “significant disagreements” on foreign policy issues.

A friendly handshake
The final straw was Fico’s chief diplomat, Juraj Blanár. He was recently photographed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Turkey, including a friendly handshake.

But there is also a lot of Putin at the national level that has Fico written all over it. Since his re-election, the 59-year-old has picked up where he left off before his forced resignation. Dozens of people from his circle are still under investigation because of the corruption morass that came to light.

The passionate “corruption fighter”
Fico is now busy filling key positions with representatives in the judiciary, the police and the government. The ÚŠP Special Prosecutor’s Office, which specializes in corruption crimes, was completely eliminated as part of a judicial reform. In other words, the department that deals, among other things, with cases involving high-ranking officials and members of Fico’s Smerparty.

His government denies critical media access to information. Editors from the affected houses are allowed – after a temporary ban – to enter the Slovak government building again, but their questions are not answered.

Expect more chaos
And now Fico was shot in public, just as he wanted to engage in dialogue with citizens. It was said that he was on his way to shake hands. His attacker is apparently a 71-year-old writer. According to eyewitness accounts, he pulled the trigger five times.

The government suggests he acted for political motives. Exact details are still unclear. However, it is clearly visible that the attack also touches the Slovakian soul. The government and opposition were already blaming each other for the attack, and it was not even clear whether Slovakia’s prime minister was still breathing.