European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her strong condemnation of the “despicable attack” on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, stating that acts of violence have no place in society and undermine democracy. Accompanied by European Council President Charles Michel, who also expressed shock at the incident, von der Leyen’s message was shared on social media.
Fico was injured in a shooting outside a cultural community center in Handlova on Wednesday afternoon. Reports indicate he was hit in the abdomen and taken to the hospital, although further details on his condition are pending. The swift response from European leaders underscores the severity of the attack, with both von der Leyen and Michel asserting that violence and such attacks can never be justified.
Messages of support and well wishes for Fico and his family flooded social media, with various political figures expressing solidarity. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Fico, offered prayers for his health and recovery. Slovakia’s outgoing president Zuzana Caputová, Latvian Prime Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and NATO CEO Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the attack and extended their thoughts to Fico and the Slovak people.
The suspected perpetrator of the attack has been arrested by police. Images circulating online show Fico being assisted by his security team after the shooting before being rushed to a vehicle. The incident has sparked reactions from leaders across Europe, emphasizing the importance of condemning violence and upholding democratic values.
