“I strongly condemn the vile attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated in a post on X. “Such acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good,” she stated.
“Violence must not be existant in European politics,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated in a post on X on Wednesday, calling the try on Fico’s lifestyles a “cowardly assault.”
Simon Harris, Ireland’s taoiseach, or prime minister, called the assault a “stunning and vile assault on democracy” in a post on X, with leaders throughout Europe echoing an identical sentiments.
“Shots at Robert are pictures at freedom and democracy,” Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević said in a separate post, adding: “There can’t be anywhere for violence in politics.”
Political experts and pro-democracy advocates in Europe also weighed in, warning of concerns around the future of democratic discourse across the continent.
“Politicians & newshounds are key pillars of our democratic methods. When they’re centered via any type of violence or intimidation, all of us lose. Democracy loses,” wrote Ricardo Borges de Castro, a senior adviser to the European Policy Center.
“We strongly condemn the tried assassination of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and make contact with for a swift, independent investigation into lately’s assault,” Freedom House, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday, just days after posting an analysis on how Fico’s Smer party “posed demanding situations to democratic resilience.”
“Such brazen political violence is totally unacceptable in any context,” said Freedom House, which Russia designated an “unwanted” organization earlier this month, effectively banning anyone from working or collaborating with the group.
Mahalia Dobson contributed.
