The challenging future of Robert Fico after assassination attempt

The Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, has recently made headlines after being the target of an assassination attempt that led him to undergo emergency surgery and remain in intensive care. At 59 years old, Fico is a politician with a long history in the political scene of Slovakia, having held the position of prime minister on four occasions with his populist party Smer-SD. Throughout his career, Fico has been a controversial figure, causing divisions both in his country and in the European Union. The assassination attempt against Fico has been described as a politically motivated murder attempt, and has been unanimously condemned as an attack on democracy. Despite his controversial figure, Fico has managed to stay in Slovak politics for decades, predating the country's independence in 1993. Initially linked to the Communist Party, Fico has moved through different political formations, finally founding Smer-SD in 1999, a social democratic party. During his tenure as prime minister, Fico has taken positions ranging from traditional left-wing populism to more conservative and eurosceptic stances. His rhetoric against immigration and his opposition to EU and NATO policies have sparked controversy and placed him at the center of debates on European politics and the situation in Ukraine. Internationally, Fico has maintained a critical stance towards Ukraine and shown sympathy towards Russia, while advocating for halting military aid to Kiev. His statements have raised concerns in the West and generated tensions in NATO and the EU regarding the situation in Ukraine. His alliance with far-right politicians in Europe, such as Hungary's Viktor Orbán, has raised alarms about the direction regional politics could take. In Slovakia, Fico has faced criticism for his handling of justice and press freedom. The reform of the Criminal Justice system promoted by his government, including the abolition of the Special Prosecutor's Office responsible for investigating serious crimes and corruption, has raised concerns about judicial independence in the country. Likewise, his proposal to close the national broadcaster RTVS has been seen as an attack on press freedom. The assassination attempt against Robert Fico has highlighted political polarization in Slovakia and raised questions about the country's political future. With a leader who has transitioned from communism to nationalist populism, Fico's figure poses a challenge to Slovak democracy and to international relations in Europe. As he recovers from this attack, attention is focused on how Fico will continue to exercise his leadership and what impact it will have on the country's political landscape and the region.