Assassination attempt on Slovak PM was 'politically motivated': Official

The Wednesday shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was a "politically motivated" assassination attempt, a senior government official stated.

Fico was shot on Wednesday in the city of Handlova and is in a "life-threatening condition." Authorities detained a suspect shortly after the incident.

Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok later confirmed that the incident had been an "assassination attempt' and said "the first information we have is that this was a politically motivated act," according to Politico. Eštok did not identify the exact motive, but confirmed that the suspect had fired five times.

Fico's medical condition remains precarious, with Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák saying that "[h]e is fighting for his life."

The Slovak won election in September of last year and had campaigned in part on ending aid to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion. He has generally maintained close relations with neighboring Hungary and its prime minister, Viktor Orban.

The pair have both maintained more favorable relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that have other European Union leaders.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.