Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico made his first public appearance last Friday (5) since the assassination attempt he suffered in May.
On that occasion, he spoke out against progressive ideologies and supported Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow, Russia, in a nighttime ceremony marking Saints Cyril and Methodius Day, a public holiday in the country.
Fico, a four-time leftist prime minister, returned to the country’s government after winning an election in September last year.
He was attacked while greeting the public after a government meeting in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia.
The attack deepened polarization in the Central European country of 5.4 million people.
Fico’s leftist nationalist government has rapidly changed its policy since taking power last year, including amending some criminal laws and canceling a special prosecutor’s office, transforming the public broadcaster and cutting off state military aid to Ukraine.
Opposition parties have been fighting Fico’s government over the changes, while the European Union has been watching for any damage to the rule of law or media freedoms.
On Friday, he hit back at progressive and liberal ideologies that he said were “spreading like cancer” and hurting the country.
“I don’t want Slovakia to be among the countries that make a caricature of Western civilization,” he said.
Her attacker, a man identified by prosecutors as Juraj C., 71, was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Prosecutors this week called the case a terrorist attack.
Earlier this month, in a video message posted on social media, the head of state called his attacker an “opposition activist” but reiterated that he felt no hatred towards him and that he would not seek compensation.
The detained man, according to court documents, said he wanted to hurt the prime minister but not kill him because he disagreed with government policies.
Fico has faced criticism for his Russia-leaning views.
In his first public appearance, he reiterated his call for peace talks in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. He also said he would have joined Orban, who has faced protests from some EU leaders over his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on his visit to Moscow if his health permitted.
“There are not enough, I repeat, there are not enough peace negotiations,” Fico said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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