EU leaders condemn with dismay the assassination attempt on the Slovak head of government

The condemnation and regret for the attack against the Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, is unanimous in the institutions of the EU, in NATO and in European capitals. From the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, through the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, or the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the reactions of rejection, of shock and solidarity have cascaded as what happened in Slovakia and the consequences of the shots received by the populist politician, head of government of his country for six and a half months, become clearer. The attack occurs a few weeks before the decisive elections to the European Parliament in June.

“Horrified and outraged at the attack against the Prime Minister of Slovakia,” cried the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, on the social network “Nothing can justify violence.”

Minutes before Sánchez spoke, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had done so: “I strongly condemn the vile attack.” […]. These acts of violence have no place in our society and undermine democracy, our most precious common good.” His compatriot, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has also spoken out: “The news of the cowardly attempted assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Fico greatly dismays me. Violence must have no place in European politics.”

These voices have also been joined by those of the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who has declared herself “dismayed” by the attack and has condemned it on behalf of the institution she heads; the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, who has added to the condemnation the rejection of “political violence” and the secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, who has shown his shock at the attack and has wished him “a speedy recovery.”

The sudden departure of all the leaders of the European institutions leaves no room for doubt of solidarity with the Slovak leader, a former member of the social democratic family, from which he was expelled for his populism and his proximity to Russia. Since Fico returned to power, all of his movements in the field of the rule of law and foreign policy have been closely observed in Brussels, due to his pro-Russian discourse. But so far he has not shown signs of approaching the Kremlin—or, at least, of becoming significant—as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has done. The Hungarian president has said he feels “deeply shocked” by the shots received by his “friend.” “We pray for his health and quick recovery,” he added.

In the college of commissioners the news has also been received with stupor. The most active has been the Slovakian Maros Sefcovic, vice president of the Commission, who has been appointed to the Union Executive by Fico on two previous occasions: “I am shocked by the attempt on the life of Prime Minister Fico. My thoughts are with him and his loved ones. “There is no excuse for any violence and I condemn it in the strongest terms.” In addition to his message on X, Sefcovic has retweeted the messages of several of the leaders who condemn the attack.

Along with Sefcovic’s message, commissioners such as Paolo Gentiloni, head of the Economy, have also been stunned; Elisa Ferreira, head of Reforms and Cohesion, and the high representative for EU Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell. “Once again we are witnessing unacceptable attacks against political representatives,” the latter lamented, after condemning the attack and expressing solidarity with his family.

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