Liberals divided over the assassination attempt in Slovakia

Published 16 May 2024 at 10.24

Foreign. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has been shot in the open street by a retired left-liberal activist and writer. In Sweden, the political-media establishment expresses mixed feelings after the execution attempt, while the Slovak opposition unconditionally condemns the act.

Share the article

TwittraShare

Wolfgang Hansson, who is also a left-liberal activist and retired writer, comments on the incident in Aftonbladet's web TV broadcast by highlighting that Robert Fico has been “accused” of being both corrupt and “a threat to democracy”. Something that divided the country and perhaps caused the murder, if Hansson is to be believed.

– He has shut down a (left-liberal, FT's note) prosecution chamber that went very hard on Fico's party and investigated corruption. And then he wants to shut down the country's (left-leaning, FT's note) public service media, much like what was previously done in Hungary and Poland, says Wolfgang Hansson.

However, he expresses dual feelings regarding the murder itself.

– On the other hand, murdering a prime minister… it is an even greater threat to democracy, states Hansson in Aftonbladet.

At the same time, the leader of the Slovak opposition condemns profiles the attack on Fico.

– We unequivocally and forcefully condemn all violence. We want to assume that Prime Minister Fico will straighten up and that this terrible act will be clarified as soon as possible, says Michal Simecka, whose left-liberal party lost last year's parliamentary elections to Fico.

Simecka has also canceled a demonstration against the government that was to be held on Wednesday evening. He urges politicians from both sides to refrain from statements that could increase tensions in the country.