News about Robert Fico

The far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) leader, who is a power player in the Dutch coalition government, has been the target of violence throughout his career and says he receives multiple death threats every day. Wilders joined fellow European politicians and Trump allies - including Reform UK MP Nigel Farage and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico - in blaming the liberal media for inciting hatred towards the former US president. 'The hate rhetoric from many leftish politicians and media, who label right-wing politicians as racists and Nazis is not without consequences,' Wilders said. 'They are playing with fire.' His comments come as politicians in the UK and across Europe of all political stripes face increased threats while out in public or on the campaign trail, with the dangers posed to British MPs highlighted during the recent election .

Petr Pavel, 62, was racing his BMW R1200 GS in Prague when he came crashing off the vehicle before being carried to the nearest military hospital. The retired NATO general is known for his love of motorcycle racing and this is not the first time this passion has caused trouble for his government. Last August, just months after his inauguration as president, Pavel was forced to publically apologise after being caught riding without a helmet.

A chilling video has emerged of Robert Fico making the prophecy of his own assassination attempt last month.

It comes as state media claimed that allied Russia is sending a 50-man specialist mountain rescue unit to assist the search. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed it in a Telegram post. Rescuers were last night struggling to locate the Iranian president after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in bad weather. An Iranian official said the lives of president Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, among others, were 'at risk'.

A chilling video has emerged of Robert Fico making the prophecy of his own assassination attempt last month. Mr Fico narrowly survived being shot at five times at point blank range by a politically disillusioned pensioner who 'disagreed' with government policies. Yesterday (UN), it was announced that his life was no longer in immediate danger but he is still in a serious condition, four days after an assassination attempt that sent shockwaves through Europe.

The populist Slovak leader Robert Fico was shot multiple times last Wednesday in an assassination attempt that sent shocked the whole world. Slovakia's defence minister Robert Kalinak told reporters outside the hospital where Mr Fico is being treated that he remains in a serious condition. He said: 'The worst of what we feared has passed, at least for the moment. But his condition remains serious. His condition is stable with a positive prognosis.'

A glamorous 'chief state adviser' to Robert Fico (pictured together, left) was intimately tied to his downfall over a mafia scandal in 2018. Mr Fico, who came back to power last year, quit as prime minister less than three weeks after a wave of public revulsion over the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova. The first journalist to be murdered for his work in Slovakia, Mr Kuciak was investigating organised crime links with the Fico government. A 27-year-old former Miss World contestant who had also appeared in nude photoshoots, Maria Troskova (inset, on the cover of a model magazine) was appointed by Fico despite her lack of experience. Subsequently dubbed the 'sexy assistant' by Slovak tabloids, the government refused to clarify why she was hired or the nature of her role. But diplomats were incensed when the 'not very successful model with a dubious reputation' was allowed to attend meetings with German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Spattered with blood, they offer a glimpse into the tortured soul of a would-be assassin. The poems and writings of alleged gunman Juraj Cintula suggest a deeply disturbed psyche - though not necessarily a madman. As the pensioner appeared in court charged with trying to assassinate the Slovakian prime minister, The Mail on Sunday was given exclusive access to his literary works. The rambling collection reveals Cintula's thoughts on topics ranging from the state of his country to pornographic fantasies. At first glance, much of it appears to be political gibberish. However, after the 71-year-old allegedly acted out his frustrations with last Wednesday's violent attack on PM Robert Fico, they may be viewed in a sinister new light.

IAN BIRRELL: Out-of-touch and feuding politicians, soaring living costs and a lack of decent jobs - the gripes from voters were eerily familiar from reporting on elections in other democracies. I have heard the same disgruntlement from Argentina to the United States, from Spain to Sweden - and across Britain, of course. Yet the intensity of anger and depth of divisions in Slovakia were among the most disturbing I have witnessed - and they resulted in last year's return to power of Robert Fico, the populist leader now fighting for his life after an assassination bid. We do not know the motives yet for the shooting - though a 'lone wolf' appeared in court today charged with attempted murder.

The suspect charged with the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has arrived at court ahead of his trial. Several police cars arrived at a penal court in Pezinok, northeast of the capital of Bratislava, today where 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula's pre-trial detention will be determined.  The suspect was charged with attempted murder after unleashing a flurry of bullets at the Prime Minister in Handlova town on Wednesday, hitting him four times and leaving him in critical condition.

The world's two most powerful despots met in Beijing towards the end of this week. Such top-level pow-wows are a regular occurrence these days. Almost unbelievably, Russia 's President Vladimir Putin and China 's President Xi Jinping were meeting for the 43rd time and Putin was making his 19th visit to Beijing in 24 years. The economic ties between the two dictatorships are closer than ever, their military links deep and deepening, just as Russia ramps up its spring offensive against Ukraine. Their common purpose is to challenge the power of America and its allies across the globe. As if to leave the democracies in no doubt about their united intent, Xi saw Putin off on Friday evening with a hug, a rare expression of affection from the normally undemonstrative Chinese leader. The day before the dictators met there was an assassination attempt on Slovakian prime minister Robert Fico, a long-standing Kremlin fanboy. Fortunately, the gunman failed to kill his target, though the PM remains critically ill in hospital.

When gun-toting pensioner Juraj Cintula (bottom centre) allegedly tried to assassinate the Slovakian prime minister (bottom right) on Wednesday, the world held its breath. For while many questions have been asked about the 'political' motives that prompted Cintula, a 'polite, calm' 71-year-old poet, to pull out his 9mm pistol (top right), shocked friends believe it all goes back to 11 momentous days some 35 years ago. That was the Velvet Revolution of November 1989 (left). For four decades, Czechoslovakians had endured the miserable yoke of Soviet-style Communism. But it all came crashing down in less than a fortnight - without a single life being lost - thanks to brave pro-democracy revolutionaries such as Cintula. With cruel irony, his alleged actions now risk Slovakia descending into civil war, potentially triggering a devastating domino effect that could serve as a prelude to a catastrophic clash between Russia and Europe.

The shooting in Slovakia on Wednesday - allegedly carried out by 'lone-wolf' gunman Juraj Cintula, 71 - was the first major assassination attempt on a European political leader for more than 20 years, and has drawn international condemnation. Political analysts and lawmakers say it has exposed an increasingly febrile and polarised political climate both in Slovakia and across Europe. 'We are praying for the prime minister and root for Slovakia,' Orban said. 'We wish him a speedy recovery and return to work. Robert Fico is between life and death.' Orban said even if Fico recovers, he would be out of work for months at a critical time in the run-up to European Parliament elections due early next month.

Alleged gunman Juraj Cintula, 71, (left) is facing life in prison if convicted of the 'lone wolf', 'politically motivated' assassination attempt on the pro-Putin (inset) Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico (right), as it emerged he holds a range of political views. The poet and retired security guard has rallied against communism, migrants, and violence - and has links to a pro-Russian militia. But, in a further contradiction, footage emerged on Thursday showing Cintula at a protest against Mr Fico three weeks ago - where he is heard shouting: 'Long live Ukraine!'

Robert Fico, 59, was blasted from near-point-blank range by 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, a writer from Levice, as he greeted supporters outside government offices north-east of the capital

Robert Fico, 59, was targeted by a gunman as he greeted supporters in Handlova, north-east of the capital Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting. But when exactly did the incident happen and what has been revealed since it occurred? Here is a full timeline of the key events leading up to and following the harrowing incident which occurred yesterday.

Robert Fico, 59, was blasted from near-point-blank range by 71-year-old Juraj Cintula, a writer from Levice, as he greeted supporters outside government offices north-east of the capital Bratislava yesterday. The prime minister was rushed to hospital by air ambulance to undergo life-saving surgery late last night, and is now said to be in a 'serious but stable' condition. Cintula meanwhile has been arrested and charged with attempted murder, a crime which carries a penalty of 25 years to life in prison should he be found guilty, according to Slovakian press. Authorities later decided to place Cintula's spouse under protection for fear that Fico's enraged supporters would seek retribution after Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok Estok warned the country was 'on the edge of a civil war' amid the fallout. The pensioner was seen covering her face with a magazine as she was hurriedly ushered out of her apartment by a masked policeman.

The Slovakian prime minister is no longer in a life-threatening condition and 'will survive' after he was shot five times in a 'politically motivated' assassination attempt, his deputy has said. But who is Robert Fico's wife, Svetlana Ficova? How long have the couple been married and do they have any children together? Here is everything you need to know about Svetlana Ficova.

Robert Fico, 59, was targeted by a gunman as he greeted supporters in Handlova, north-east of the capital Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting yesterday. The shooter, 71-year-old Juraj Cintula from Levice, could be seen waiting at a barrier for the PM to approach before drawing his weapon in footage published by Slovak outlet RTV Prievidza. Despite being flanked by five guards, Cintula managed to fire off five shots at point-blank range before being taken down by the PM's security detail. The prime minister was rushed to a nearby hospital in a helicopter following the shooting and underwent lifesaving surgery. Slovakia's deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba said this morning that Mr Fico is 'not in [a] life-threatening situation at this moment'. 'As far as I know, the operation went well and I guess that at the end he will survive.'

The man accused of shooting the Slovakian prime minister is believed to be a writer and a poet, who founded an 'anti-violence' movement. Juraj Cintula, 71, from Levice has been identified by Slovakian media as the gunman in yesterday's assassination attempt on Robert Fico, 59. Fico was meeting a crowd of supporters in in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting when the shooter fired five times at point-blank range. In 2015 he is believed to have founded an anti-violence movement in his hometown. He said: 'Every normal person rejects violence. Our goal is to unite people, preserve peace and restore democracy. It is very difficult because no one trusts anyone anymore. The world is full of chaos and hatred.'

The pro-Putin prime minister of Slovakia was recovering in hospital last night after being shot in an assassination bid that triggered alarm bells across Europe. Robert Fico was beckoned over to meet a crowd of supporters before a gunman leaned across and fired five times at point-blank range, sending the divisive politician sprawling to the ground. Bodyguards pounced on the would-be assassin as Mr Fico was carried into a government limousine which sped away before he was airlifted to hospital. His condition was critical, however Slovak deputy prime minister Tomas Taraba told the BBC that 'the operation went well', adding he was confident that 'he will survive'. As police said they had detained 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula on suspicion of the shooting in Handlova, central Slovakia.

So Wednesday's shooting of the Slovak prime minister, Robert Fico, has inevitably sent political shockwaves far from his homeland. Not since 1914 and the shooting of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo has an assassination been attempted at such a delicate time in European politics. That, too, had taken place in a seeming backwater - in that case, an obscure corner of the Balkans. But the ensuing domino effect and the ultimate horrors of the Great War that resulted are easily remembered. Political violence can all-too-readily lead to destructive chaos. Only independent since 1993, Slovakia's short life saw it join the European Union in 2004. But the confident expectation then that Europe would be a 'continent of peace' now looks empty - punctured by Russia 's bloody onslaught on Slovakia's immediate neighbour, Ukraine.

This is the horrifying moment the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, was shot point blank in the stomach and arm by a '71-year-old assassin' who attempted to flee. Footage circulating on social captured the shocking moment Fico, 59, was attacked across a barrier as he greeted adoring fans in Handlova, north-east of Bratislava, following a Slovak government meeting. As the prime minister shook the hands of waving and cheering citizens, his security personnel stood on guard behind him, before chaos was unleashed. An individual from within the crowd can be seen lunging forward, with a gun in hand as he begins shooting in the direction of the PM who is out of the camera frame. The security scrambled to tackle the man, who is reportedly 71-year-old Juraj C, from Levice, to the ground while shoving in to the metal barriers and knocking him to the floor. The crowds descend into chaos and panic as several of the security team pounce on the shooter and scramble to get around the gate to reach injured Fico.

There was an immediate outpouring of support and well-wishes from Heads of State including Austria, Poland , Italy and Romania , who were quick to condemn the attack.