02:33Slovakia’s President-elect Peter Pellegrini said that Prime Minister Robert Fico's condition remains 'very critical' following Wednesday's shooting, during a press conference on Thursday.
"We cannot say at this moment that the prime minister is completely safe," he stated. "He is able to speak but only a few sentences and then he's really, really tired because he's under some medication. So, of course it is very difficult for him[...] but the situation is very critical and we have to give him a lot of energy and think, and be positive."
Meanwhile, the Slovakian leader also mentioned that the government is already making steps to 'calm down' the situation, saying "we have to stop this very huge tension in our society."
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
During a separate briefing, Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities were only working on one possible version of the attack - a 'politically motivated' one - and that the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the reasons.
He added that the suspect also blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council and the closure of the public broadcaster.
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
'Situation is very critical' - Slovakia's President-elect Pellegrini says Fico 'able to speak' but 'really tired' following shooting
Slovakia’s President-elect Peter Pellegrini said that Prime Minister Robert Fico's condition remains 'very critical' following Wednesday's shooting, during a press conference on Thursday.
"We cannot say at this moment that the prime minister is completely safe," he stated. "He is able to speak but only a few sentences and then he's really, really tired because he's under some medication. So, of course it is very difficult for him[...] but the situation is very critical and we have to give him a lot of energy and think, and be positive."
Meanwhile, the Slovakian leader also mentioned that the government is already making steps to 'calm down' the situation, saying "we have to stop this very huge tension in our society."
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
During a separate briefing, Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities were only working on one possible version of the attack - a 'politically motivated' one - and that the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the reasons.
He added that the suspect also blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council and the closure of the public broadcaster.
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.
Slovakia’s President-elect Peter Pellegrini said that Prime Minister Robert Fico's condition remains 'very critical' following Wednesday's shooting, during a press conference on Thursday.
"We cannot say at this moment that the prime minister is completely safe," he stated. "He is able to speak but only a few sentences and then he's really, really tired because he's under some medication. So, of course it is very difficult for him[...] but the situation is very critical and we have to give him a lot of energy and think, and be positive."
Meanwhile, the Slovakian leader also mentioned that the government is already making steps to 'calm down' the situation, saying "we have to stop this very huge tension in our society."
Fico was airlifted to hospital in Banska Bystrica after being shot multiple times following a government meeting in Handlova. The alleged assailant, named in local media as 71-year-old Slovakian Juraj Cintula, was detained at the scene.
During a separate briefing, Slovak Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok stated the authorities were only working on one possible version of the attack - a 'politically motivated' one - and that the suspension of aid to Ukraine was among the reasons.
He added that the suspect also blamed the abolition of the special prosecutor's office, the dismissal of the chairman of the judicial council and the closure of the public broadcaster.
The Fico government has introduced legislation to reform public broadcasting, NGOs and corruption prosecutions, which have led to protests about the perceived tightening of government control. Fico himself said that the broadcasting overhaul would protect 'the public's right to objective information'.
59-year-old Fico was elected in September 2023, marking his fourth period as PM and ran on a campaign to end military support to Ukraine. He has opposed EU sanctions on Russia and the sending of arms to Kiev, saying the US and others should use their influence to bring about a peace deal.