Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico is fighting for his life after yesterday’s assassination attempt, Slovak officials have said, as they condemned the attack as an “attempted assassination on democracy”.

President-elect Peter Pellegrini made the remarks as he called for calm in a joint news conference with outgoing President Zuzana Caputova.

“An attempted assassination of the prime minister is an attempted assassination on democracy,” Mr Pellegrini said.

He added: “This assassination attempt needs to be condemned by all of us jointly … We must not respond to hate with more hate or else this evil will never be stopped.”

Earlier today, the country’s defence minister said Mr Fico was in a very serious condition due to how “complicated” his gunshot injuries were.

Multiple shots were fired outside a cultural centre in the town of Handlova, around 85 miles northeast of the capital Bratislava, where the 59-year-old was meeting supporters, the government said.

A suspect is in custody, but the motive for the shooting is still unclear.

Slovakian PM ‘fighting for his life’ after assassination attempt

Who is Slovak populist prime minister Robert Fico?

Slovakia prime minister shot – latest: President calls on political campaigns to be suspended – as Slovak PM in ‘very serious condition’

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