Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries after he was shot and wounded in an attempted assassination on Wednesday.
🇸🇰‼️🚨 BREAKING: The Slovak Prime Minister Fico was shot!
-> He is strictly against aid for Ukraine and reinstated relations with Russia!
“The Prime Minister of Slovakia Fico was wounded during the shooting in the building where the government meeting was held. He was injured… pic.twitter.com/Mi15B2u6vs
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 15, 2024
Following are some reactions from leaders across the world to the assassination attempt:
- US President Joe Biden: “I am alarmed to hear reports of an attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.”
- Russian President Vladimir Putin: “There can be no justification for this monstrous crime. I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him to survive this difficult situation.”
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen: “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family.” - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz: “News of the cowardly assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico shocks me deeply. Violence must have no place in European politics.”
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form, or sphere.”
- Slovakia’s Acting Parliament Speaker Peter Ziga: “I perceive this as an attack on the principles of Slovak democracy. Such a horrible act has never happened in Slovak history. I consider it to be the result of whipped-up passions and the division of the Slovak society into two irreconcilable camps.”
- British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “Shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family.”
- Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer: “The attempt on the life of Slovak PM Fico shocks me deeply, no place for hate and violence in our democracies.”
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg: “I wish him strength for a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia.”
- European Council President Charles Michel: “Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks.”
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni: “I learned with deep shock the news of the cowardly attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. All my thoughts are with him, his family and the friendly Slovak people. Also on behalf of the Italian Government, I would like to express the strongest condemnation of all forms of violence and attacks on the cardinal principles of democracy and freedom.”
- Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo: “The attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico is an attack on democracy.”
- Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro: “On behalf of Portugal and myself, I express all my solidarity with my colleague Robert Fico, Prime Minister of Slovakia, wishing him full recovery. We condemn in the strongest terms this unacceptable and barbaric act of political violence.”
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban: “I am deeply shocked by the horrific attack on my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and speedy recovery! May God bless him and his country!”
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk: “Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you at this difficult moment.” (REUTERS)
