Slovakia: PM Fico in 'serious' state after another operation

World Saturday 18/May/2024 15:21 PM
By: DW
Slovakia: PM Fico in 'serious' state after another operation

Bratislava: Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico had a second operation on Friday, two days after being shot multiple times in what his office described as an assassination attempt.

"He had an almost two-hour-long operation" on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak told reporters outside the hospital in Banska Bystrica where Fico had surgery.

"His state is still very serious. I think it would take a couple of days to see the course of the development of his state," Kalinak added.

Kalinak, who is also the defense minister, is standing in for Fico during the prime minister's absence.

Friday's operation came after Fico underwent five hours of surgery in the wake of the shooting. Kalinak called it a "standard step."

It remains unclear if the 59-year-old will make a full recovery.

The government in Bratislava said on Friday that additional information on Fico's condition would be made public "when the situation allows."

It also asked the media, politicians and members of the public to only disseminate officially circulated information, saying misleading false information and speculation had also been reported in the media.

A 71-year-old was charged on Thursday with the attempted murder of Fico following the attack in which the prime minister was shot while greeting supporters in a square in the central Slovakian town of Handlova.

Authorities described the suspect as a "lone wolf" with political grievances.