Update on Prime Minister Robert Fico’s Condition: ‘Extraordinarily Serious’ and Still in Surgery as Medics ‘Fight for His Life’, Says Minister

**Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, in ‘Extraordinarily Serious’ Condition After Assassination Attempt**

Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Fico, is currently undergoing surgery and is in an “extraordinarily serious” condition after suffering serious polytrauma from multiple gunshot wounds. The country’s Defence Minister, Robert Kaliňák, stated that medical workers are fighting for Fico’s life as the surgery continues.

The incident occurred outside the House of Culture in Handlová, where Fico was shot multiple times by a man in the crowd. The attacker has been identified as a 71-year-old former security guard. The motive behind the attack is still unclear, but initial information suggests a political motivation following Slovakia’s presidential election.

The surgery has been ongoing for over three and a half hours, with a large medical team working to reverse the effects of the assassination attempt. The Interior Minister, Matúš Šutaj-Eštok, appealed for calm and urged against responding to hate with hate, emphasizing the need for unity and respect for differing opinions.

International leaders, including Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden, have condemned the attack and expressed support for Fico’s recovery. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also denounced the violence and called for an end to attacks on political representatives.

The suspect has been detained, and investigations are underway to determine the full circumstances of the attack. Slovakia’s outgoing President, Zuzana Čaputová, described the incident as an attack on democracy and called for unity and a focus on Fico’s recovery.

The situation is still developing, and more updates are expected as the investigation progresses. Stay tuned for further information on this tragic event.