There are hours of waiting and tension in Slovakia, after the attack on May 15 against Prime Minister Robert Fico, a populist leader close to Orban. A 71-year-old shot him five times because he “disagreed with his policies”. The prime minister underwent surgery and is now in a medically induced coma. His condition has stabilized but is still serious, as Defense Minister Robert Kalinak announced this morning. “Last night the doctors” at the Roosevelt hospital in Banska Bystrica “managed to stabilize the patient’s condition. Today they will take further steps for his recovery,” Kalinak said.
The charges for the attacker
Meanwhile, the police have accused the attacker of premeditated murder for revenge, as reported Marzika tv. The man is currently in a police cell at the National Criminal Agency in Nitra. He is 71 years old, and originally from Levice. Identified as Juraj Cintula, a former employee of a private security company, he is also an author of poetry. “I did it because I disagree with the government’s policies,” the man reportedly said during interrogation.
The aggression
The attack occurred yesterday around 2.30pm after a government meeting, in front of a cultural center in the city of Handlova. According to what was reported by the local newspaper Dennis, Fico came out to greet the crowd when shots were fired. The attacker, who was hiding among the people gathered in front of the building where the prime minister was speaking, was stopped by some passers-by and the security forces and then handed over to the police.
