Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Speaks Out After Surviving Assassination Attempt: Recovery, Blames Opposition, Urges Peaceful Political Discourse Before EU Elections

Bratislava, Slovakia Slovakia
Fico blamed political opposition for the attack but they denied accusations.
Fico urged all parties to avoid violence and focus on peaceful political discourse before EU elections.
Fico was shot multiple times and underwent several surgeries before being released from the hospital on May 30.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt on May 15, 2024.
The attacker, identified as Juraj C, was arrested on the spot and charged with attempted premeditated murder.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico Speaks Out After Surviving Assassination Attempt: Recovery, Blames Opposition, Urges Peaceful Political Discourse Before EU Elections

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt on May 15, 2024, and spoke publicly for the first time since then in a video address on June 5. In his speech, Fico detailed his recovery process and hoped to return to work by the end of June or early July. He also blamed the political opposition for the attack, an accusation that they strongly denied.

Fico was shot multiple times at close range in Handlova, Slovakia. He underwent several surgeries before being released from a hospital on May 30 and has been recovering at his home in Bratislava since then.

The attacker, identified as Juraj C, was arrested on the spot and charged with attempted premeditated murder. Fico suggested that his political opinions, including his opposition to military aid to Ukraine and criticism of EU sanctions on Russia, made him a target.

Opposition parties have accused Fico's government of eroding democracy in Slovakia. Thousands have protested against Fico's policies since he took office last October after a narrow victory in the parliamentary election.

Despite the accusations and tensions, Fico expressed no hatred towards his attacker and planned no legal action against him. He urged all parties to avoid violence and focus on peaceful political discourse.

The European Parliament elections are scheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2024.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Is there any evidence linking the opposition to the assassination attempt?

Sources

76%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Robert Fico: Slovak PM blames opposition's 'hatred' for shooting

BBC News Site: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702081, About Us URL: https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/ Rob Cameron Wednesday, 05 June 2024 23:17
  • Unique Points
    • Fico blames the political opposition for the assassination attempt which they strongly denied
    • Fico believes he was targeted for having a Ukraine position contrary to the European mainstream
  • Accuracy
    • Fico blames the political opposition for the assassination attempt which they strongly deny
  • Deception (30%)
    Rob Cameron's article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports details that support Fico's position, implying that the opposition is responsible for creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that led to the shooting. He also uses emotionally charged language such as 'evil,' 'political hatred,' and 'messenger of evil.'
    • The opposition’s ‘violent or hateful excesses’ against a democratically-elected government had been met with silence by international organisations.
    • Mr Fico laid the blame for the attack on Slovakia’s liberal opposition, the ‘anti-government media’ and foreign-funded NGOs for creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that made the shooting possible.
    • He had warned for months, he said, that the likelihood of an attack on a government official was ‘approaching certainty.’
  • Fallacies (80%)
    Rob Cameron's article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when Fico accuses foreign-funded NGOs and 'anti-government media' co-owned by companies linked to George Soros of creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that made the shooting possible. This is an unjustified claim without any evidence provided.
    • Rob Fico accused foreign-funded NGOs and 'anti-government media' co-owned by companies linked to George Soros of creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that made the shooting possible.
  • Bias (80%)
    Rob Cameron's article contains several instances of political bias. The author directly accuses the liberal opposition and foreign-funded NGOs of creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that made the shooting possible. He also implies that these groups are responsible for motivating the shooter, despite no evidence being presented to support this claim.
    • He had warned for months, he said, that the likelihood of an attack on a government official was ‘approaching certainty’. The attack had taken place, he said, in an atmosphere where the opposition’s ‘violent or hateful excesses’ against a democratically-elected government had been met with silence by international organisations.
      • Mr Fico opposes military aid to Kyiv and says Vladimir Putin has been ‘wrongly demonised’ by the West. The opposition’s ‘violent or hateful excesses’ against a democratically-elected government had been met with silence by international organisations, he said, simply because opposition views were in line with Western policy on Ukraine.
        • the Slovak prime minister laid the blame for the attack on Slovakia’s liberal opposition, the ‘anti-government media’ and foreign-funded NGOs for creating a climate of hatred and intolerance that made the shooting possible.
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        98%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Slovak Prime Minister Speaks Publicly for First Time Since Assassination Attempt

        The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Jesus Jiménez, Wednesday, 05 June 2024 19:48
        • Unique Points
          • Prime Minister Robert Fico spoke publicly for the first time since being shot on May 15, 2024
          • Fico detailed his recovery and hoped to return to work by end of June or early July
          • He blamed the political opposition for the assassination attempt which they strongly denied
        • Accuracy
          • Fico blames the political opposition for the assassination attempt which they strongly denied
          • Fico has forgiven his attacker and does not bear hatred towards him
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Bias (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        93%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        Slovakia's Fico says he was targeted for Ukraine views, in first speech since assassination attempt

        The Associated Press News Wednesday, 05 June 2024 15:37
        • Unique Points
          • Fico believes he was targeted for having a Ukraine position contrary to the European mainstream
          • Thousands have protested Fico’s policies in Slovakia
        • Accuracy
          • Fico has been recovering at his home in Bratislava since then
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The author makes an appeal to victimhood when Fico states 'It's cruel to state this, but the right to have a different opinion has ceased to exist in the European Union.' This is an example of a martyr fallacy as Fico presents himself as a victim for having differing opinions from the European mainstream. He also makes an appeal to authority when he mentions 'unspecified Western countries' and suggests they are responsible for the alleged situation. Additionally, there are instances of inflammatory rhetoric when Fico refers to his opposition and others as 'evil' and 'political hatred.'
          • It's cruel to state this, but the right to have a different opinion has ceased to exist in the European Union.
          • After all, it’s evident that he only was a messenger of evil and political hatred.
          • thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Fico’s policies.
        • Bias (90%)
          The author does not express any bias towards Fico or the gunman in the article. However, Fico's statements made during the speech are biased towards his pro-Russian and anti-European Union views. He accuses unspecified Western countries of making it impossible for someone to have a different opinion in the European Union.
          • he also opposes EU sanctions on Russia, and wants to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
            • It's cruel to state this, but the right to have a different opinion has ceased to exist in the European Union.
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            91%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Slovak PM Robert Fico lays into opposition in first speech since shooting

            Financial Times Wednesday, 05 June 2024 23:19
            • Unique Points
              • Slovak PM Robert Fico gave a speech after being shot
              • The speech was the first one given by Fico since the incident
            • Accuracy
              • Slovak PM Robert Fico was shot and critically injured on 15 May in central Slovakia.
              • Fico blames the liberal opposition, anti-government media, and foreign-funded NGOs for creating a climate of hatred that led to the shooting.
              • Fico has forgiven his attacker and does not bear hatred towards him.
              • The attacker is described as an 'activist of the Slovak opposition'.
              • Opposition parties have condemned the shooting and rejected any links with the attacker.
            • Deception (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Fallacies (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication

            97%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Slovak PM Robert Fico says could return to work ‘in several weeks’

            Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera Wednesday, 05 June 2024 23:20
            • Unique Points
              • Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt three weeks ago
              • Fico was shot in the abdomen during the attack
              • Fico has expressed no hatred towards his attacker and plans no legal action against him
            • Accuracy
              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
            • Deception (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Fallacies (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Bias (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication