Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is no longer in critical condition after being shot multiple times, according to Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba. Speaking to the BBC, Taraba confirmed that Fico's surgery had gone well and that his recovery is expected, although he previously was "fighting for his life" following the attack in Handlova.

The suspect, who was detained at the scene, fired five shots at close range, hitting Fico in the stomach and arm. The attack, described as a politically motivated assassination attempt by Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, took place as Fico was meeting supporters outside a cultural center. Fico was immediately rushed to the hospital for surgery.

While the police have yet to officially identify the suspect, local media suggest he is a 71-year-old writer and political activist. A video circulating on Slovak media purportedly shows the suspect expressing his disagreement with government policies, although the BBC has not verified the video's authenticity or context.

The shooting coincided with parliamentary discussions on a controversial proposal to abolish Slovakia's public broadcaster, RTVS, which has sparked recent protests. An opposition-led demonstration was canceled in response to the attack.

Deputy Prime Minister Taraba blamed "false narratives" by opposition parties for inciting the violence, claiming Fico had previously expressed fears of such an outcome. During the parliamentary session at the time of the shooting, a colleague of Fico's accused opposition MPs of inciting the attack, while Interior Minister Estok criticized the media for fostering a climate of hatred.

President Zuzana Caputova emphasized the gravity of the situation, linking the incident to the broader issue of hateful rhetoric in society leading to violent actions. Fico, who returned to power in September as head of a populist-nationalist coalition, has faced significant controversy for his domestic and EU policies, including halting military aid to Ukraine and attempting to dismantle RTVS.