World reacts to shooting of Slovak PM Robert Fico
World
World reacts to shooting of Slovak PM Robert Fico
(Reuters) - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot and wounded in an attempted assassination on Wednesday, the government office said.
Following are reactions to the assassination attempt:
US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
"I am alarmed to hear reports of an attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist."
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN IN MESSAGE TO SLOVAK PRESIDENT ZUZANA CAPUTOVA
"There can be no justification for this monstrous crime. I know Robert Fico as a courageous and strong-minded man. I very much hope that these qualities will help him survive this difficult situation. Please convey to him words of the most sincere support, as well as wishes for a speedy and complete recovery."
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN
"Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good. My thoughts are with PM Fico, his family."
CZECH PRESIDENT PETR PAVEL
"The attack on Robert Fico is clearly reprehensible, whatever its motivation was. It should be a warning to us about where deepening spite and aggressiveness in society can lead. I wish for Robert Fico to emerge from this incident without lasting effects."
GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ
"News of the cowardly assassination attempt on Slovakian Prime Minister Fico shocks me deeply. Violence must have no place in European politics."
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY
"Every effort should be made to ensure that violence does not become the norm in any country, form, or sphere."
SLOVAKIA'S ACTING PARLIAMENT SPEAKER PETER ZIGA
"I perceive this as an attack on the principles of Slovak
democracy. Such a horrible act has never happened in Slovak history. I consider it to be the result of whipped-up passions and the division of the Slovak society into two irreconcilable camps."
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN
"I was deeply shocked by the heinous attack against my friend, Prime Minister Robert Fico. We pray for his health and quick recovery! God bless him and his country!"
POLISH PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK
"Shocking news from Slovakia. Robert, my thoughts are with you in this very difficult moment."
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK
"Shocked to hear this awful news. All our thoughts are with Prime Minister Fico and his family."
AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR KARL NEHAMMER
"The attempt on the life of Slovak PM Fico shocks me deeply, no place for hate and violence in our democracies."
NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG
"I wish him strength for a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with Robert Fico, his loved ones, and the people of Slovakia."
