Gaspar: Another Politically Motivated Attack Might Happen in Slovakia (2)

Bratislava, 19 May (TASR) - House vice-chair Tibor Gaspar (Smer-SD) warned on Tuesday that another politically motivated assassination attempt could occur in Slovakia because of the tense political situation. Gaspar called on all political parties and political representatives in Slovakia to contribute to reconciliation and to de-escalating tensions. In his view, the media should do the same. Gaspar noted that Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD), marking the second anniversary of the assassination attempt against him on Friday (15 May), called for calm and for a "ceasefire" in the political sense and in political competition. Despite this, Gaspar said the he felt that the weekend saw even more escalation than an ordinary political period. The parliamentary vice-chair also referred to statements made by some opposition politicians about him, saying that he felt offended by them. He described them as an obsession and a style of politics that "should be strongly condemned not only rhetorically, but perhaps also by the law-enforcement authorities". He announced that he will file lawsuits over statements directed at him. Gaspar urged opposition politicians to stop using such rhetoric. "Because, of course, this also radicalises our supporters and voters, and it could easily happen that a tragedy will occur on the other side of the political spectrum, involving an opposition representative," he added. Michal Sipos, head of the opposition 'Slovakia'-For the People parliamentary caucus, reacted to statements made by Smer-SD representatives at Tuesday's press conference by saying that it is currently not Prime Minister Robert Fico who faces the threat of an assassination attempt, but rather 'Slovakia' leader Igor Matovic, because of statements made by MEP Lubos Blaha (Smer-SD). In this context, Sipos noted that, unlike the prime minister, Matovic does not have bodyguards, snipers or a limousine. Along with MP and former interior minister Roman Mikulec ('Slovakia'-For the People), Sipos also criticised the fact that Blaha has state-funded security protection and a limousine. They called on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice-SD) to explain why Blaha, as an MEP, has been assigned security protection. Friday marked two years since the assassination attempt on the prime minister following an away-from-home government session in the village of Handlova. Fico was seriously wounded in the shooting by attacker Juraj Cintula. At the end of April 2026, the Supreme Court upheld a 21-year prison sentence for the perpetrator and confirmed that he had acted with the aim of damaging the country's constitutional order. NOTE: This story has been extended to include paragraphs 7-9 mf/df