BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Slovakian High Minister Robert Fico was once shot a couple of occasions after a political tournament Wednesday afternoon, an episode of violence that punctuated his decades-long profession in politics. His deputy top minister Tomas Taraba later instructed the BBC he believed Fico would live to tell the tale the assault, pronouncing “he’s no longer in a existence threatening scenario at this second.”Fico, 59, was once born in 1964 in what was once then Czechoslovakia. A member of the Communist Birthday celebration ahead of the dissolution of communism, he took a legislation stage in 1986 and was once first elected to Slovakia’s parliament in 1992 as a member of the Birthday celebration of the Democratic Left.He served for a number of years within the Nineteen Nineties as a governmental agent representing the Slovak Republic ahead of the Eu Court docket of Human Rights and the Eu Fee of Human Rights. In 1999, he was chairman of the Smer (Course) birthday celebration, of which he has been a pivotal determine ever since.
He and Smer have maximum ceaselessly been described as left-populist, although he has additionally been in comparison to right-wing politicians just like the nationalist top minister of neighboring Hungary, Viktor Orbán.
Fico returned to energy in Slovakia closing 12 months, having in the past served two times as top minister, from 2006 to 2010 and once more from 2012 to 2018. His 3rd time period made him the longest-serving head of presidency within the historical past of Slovakia, a Eu Union and NATO member.
After 5 years in opposition, Fico’s birthday celebration gained parliamentary elections closing 12 months on a pro-Russian and anti-American platform. He vowed to carry an finish to Slovakia offering Ukraine with army improve because it battled Russia’s full-scale invasion, and has argued that NATO and the US provoked Moscow into warfare. After his election victory, the brand new executive instantly halted palms deliveries to Ukraine. Hundreds time and again took to the streets throughout Slovakia to rally towards Fico’s pro-Russian and different insurance policies, together with plans to amend the penal code to do away with a distinct anti-graft prosecutor and to take keep watch over of public media.
Fico’s go back to energy brought about fear amongst his critics that he and his birthday celebration — which had lengthy been tainted via scandal — would lead Slovakia clear of its pro-Western route. He vowed to pursue a “sovereign” overseas coverage, promised a difficult stance towards migration and non-governmental organizations, and campaigned towards LGBTQ+ rights.He earned a name for his tirades towards newshounds, and confronted prison fees in 2022 for allegedly making a prison staff and misuse of energy. In 2018, he and his executive stepped down amid controversy after Slovakian investigative journalist Ján Kuciak was once murdered along side his fiancée. Kuciak have been reporting on tax-related crimes implicating high-level Slovak politicians. Fico is married and has one kid.
