Slovakia’s populist prime minister, Robert Fico, was shot multiple times and gravely wounded on Wednesday in an attempted assassination that shocked the small country and reverberated across Europe.
The pro-Russian leader, 59, was reported to be fighting for his life after being hit in the stomach.
At least four shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, nearly 85 miles north east of the capital, where Mr Fico was meeting with supporters, the government said.
A suspect was in custody, the country’s president said in a televised statement. Mr Fico was taken by helicopter to a hospital.
The motive for the shooting was unclear.
Mr Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond, but his return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message led to even greater worries among fellow European Union members that he would lead his country further from the Western mainstream.
His government halted arms deliveries to Ukraine, and critics worry that he will lead Slovakia – a nation of 5.4 million that belongs to Nato – to abandon its pro-Western course and follow in the footsteps of Hungary under populist prime minister, Viktor Orban.
Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest against Mr Fico’s policies.
A message posted to Mr Fico’s Facebook account said he was taken to a hospital in Banska Bystrica, 17 miles from Handlova, because it would take too long to get to the capital, Bratislava.
The attack comes as political campaigning heats up three weeks ahead of Europe-wide elections to choose lawmakers for the European Parliament.
Concern is mounting that populist and nationalists similar to Fico could make gains in the 27-member bloc.
“A physical attack on the prime minister is, first of all, an attack on a person, but it is also an attack on democracy,” outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, a political rival of Fico, said in a televised statement.
“Any violence is unacceptable. The hateful rhetoric we’ve been witnessing in society leads to hateful actions. Please, let’s stop it.”
President-elect Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Mr Fico, called the shooting “an unprecedented threat to Slovak democracy. If we express other political opinions with pistols in squares, and not in polling stations, we are jeopardising everything that we have built together over 31 years of Slovak sovereignty”.
Mr Fico, a third-time premier, and his leftist Smer, or Direction, party won Slovakia’s September 30 parliamentary elections.
But politics as usual were put aside as the nation faced the shock of the attempt on Fico’s life.
Slovakia’s parliament was adjourned until further notice.
Taoiseach Simon Harris called the shooting on Mr Fico an “attack on democracy.”
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon Mr Harris said he was “deeply shocked” by the attack.
“The attack on Prime Minister Fico is an attack on democracy, a fundamental value of the European Union and one we all share,” he said.
“All of our thoughts and our solidarity are with Robert, his family and the Slovakian people.”
The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins expressed both shock and concern at the shooting the Slovak Prime Minister.
“The attempted assassination of a democratically elected Head of Government, following a government meeting is deeply shocking,” Mr Higgins said. “And will be condemned by all of those who believe in democracy and the rule of law.”
“May I express my very best wishes and my hopes that Prime Minister Robert Fico makes a full recovery,” he said.
“To Prime Minister Fico, his family and colleagues and to the Slovakian people at this most difficult time, I send my expression of best wishes at getting past this terrible action,” the president added.
British prime minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the “awful news” that Mr Fico had been shot.
European Council president Charles Michel said: “I am shocked at the news of the attack on Slovakian PM Fico after a meeting of the Slovak cabinet in Handlova.”
“Nothing can ever justify violence or such attacks. My thoughts are with the prime minister and his family,” he added.
US President Joe Biden said he was alarmed. “We condemn this horrific act of violence,” he said in a statement.
Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg posted on the social media platform X that he was “shocked and appalled” by the attempt on Mr Fico’s life.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a “vile attack”.
“Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” Ms Von der Leyen said in a post on X.