Slovakia’s prime minister is expected to survive an assassination attempt, deputy says

 

Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and gravely wounded Wednesday, but his deputy prime minister said he believed Fico would survive.

The prime minister had been greeting supporters at an event when the attempted assassination took place, shocking the small country and reverberating across Europe weeks before an election.

“I guess in the end he will survive,” Tomas Taraba told the BBC, adding: “He’s not in a life threatening situation at this moment.”

Doctors fought for Fico’s life several hours after the pro-Russian leader, 59, was hit in the abdomen, Defense Minister Robert Kalina told reporters at the hospital where Fico was being treated.”

Five shots were fired outside a cultural center in the town of Handlova, nearly 140 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of the capital, government officials said. Fico was shot while attending a meeting of his government in the town of 16,000 that was once a center of coal mining.

A suspect was in custody, and an initial investigation found “a clear political motivation” behind the assassination attempt, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said as he briefed reporters alongside the defense minister.

Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond, but his return to power last year on a pro-Russian, anti-American message led to even greater worries among fellow European Union members that he would lead his country further from the Western mainstream.

Kicking off his fourth term as prime minister, his government halted arms deliveries to Ukraine, and critics worry that he will lead Slovakia — a nation of 5.4 million that belongs to NATO — to abandon its pro-Western course and follow in the footsteps of Hungary under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico’s policies.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/brazil-rio-favela-passinho-dance-heritage-74887e3a1b4f0eaf084ea6d0f5fb20ed

Comprehension

Who was shot multiple times in Slovakia?
What was the Prime Minister doing when the attempted assassination took place?
How many kilometers northeast of the capital was the town of Handlova, where the incident occurred?
What was the initial investigation's finding regarding the motivation behind the assassination attempt?
How many terms has Prime Minister Fico served as prime minister?
What was one of the actions taken by Fico's government that worried fellow European Union members?
How many people live in Slovakia, according to the article?
What is the name of the populist Prime Minister of Hungary mentioned in the article?

Discussion

What do you think are the reasons behind the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Fico?
How do you think the attempted assassination will affect the upcoming election in Slovakia?
What are some possible consequences of a country shifting its allegiance from the Western mainstream to a more pro-Russian stance?
Have you ever heard of a political leader being attacked or assassinated in your country? How did people react?
Do you think protests are an effective way to express disagreement with a government's policies? Why or why not?
How do you think the relationship between Slovakia and other European Union members will change if Fico's government continues on its current course?
What role do you think the media plays in shaping public opinion about political leaders and their policies?
How do you think the attempted assassination will impact the daily lives of Slovak citizens?
What are some ways in which a country's foreign policy can affect its citizens' daily lives?
Do you think it's possible for a country to maintain good relationships with both the West and Russia? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Populist - relating to a political approach that seeks to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.
Gravely - extremely seriously or severely.
Reverberating - having a prolonged and far-reaching impact or effect.
Divisive - causing disagreement or hostility between people.
Pro-Russian- supporting or favoring Russia's interests or policies.
Anti-American - opposing or hostile to the United States or its policies.
Mainstream - the prevailing or dominant trend, opinion, or attitude.
Allegiance - loyalty or commitment to a particular country, group, or cause.