The attack highlighted deep political divisions in Slovak society. (File)
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s condition following an assassination attempt earlier this month is improving, the government and hospital said on Monday.
An assailant hit Fico with four bullets at close range as the prime minister greeted supporters at a government meeting in the town of Handlova in central Slovakia on May 15.
Fico, 59, was hit in the abdomen and taken in serious condition to a hospital in the regional capital of Banska Bystrica. He underwent a more than five-hour surgical operation immediately and another two days later.
He has been improving since then, FD Roosevelt University Hospital said in daily updates, and tests confirmed that on Monday.
“Based on the test results, today’s medical council meeting confirmed the gradual improvement in the prime minister’s health status,” the government said without further details.
The attack, the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader in more than 20 years, highlighted deep political divisions in Slovak society.
The police detained the attacker at the scene. Prosecutors later charged the man, identified as Juraj C., with premeditated murder, and a court ordered him held in custody.
The 71-year-old told the court he wanted to hurt, not kill, the Slovak prime minister because he disagreed with government policies and used a gun he had owned for more than 30 years, a court document showed.
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