Slovak Prime Miniter Robert Fico was shot multiple times on May 15, 2024, after a cabinet meeting in the central town of Handlova. The former Communist Party member took power for the fourth time last October and has turned the country’s foreign policy towards more pro-Russian views.
During his current term Robert Fico has garnered worldwide attention after a series of inflammatory comments about Ukraine calling for Kyiv to cede territory to Moscow to end war, something Ukraine has repeatedly ruled out.
Robert Fico was born on September 15, 1964 in Czechoslovakia, began his journey into politics after graduating from law school in 1986 His involvement started with the Communist Party just before the Velvet Revolution, a pivotal movement that marked the end of Communist Rule and beginning of democratic reforms.
During the 1990’s Pico served as the representative for the Slovak Republic before the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission of Human Rights. His entry into Slovakia parliament came in 1992 and he represented the Party of Democratic Left. Despite his ambitions, the Fico Faxed setbacks when he was overlooked for ministerial position by the Democratic Left Party (SDL) the successor party to the Communist Left Party.
This disappointment led him to resign abruptly the following year to establish his own party, Smer Social Democrats (SSD) where he has remained a prominent figure ever since. In 2006, the Robert Fico’s departure from the SDL proved fruitful as his party achieved a resounding victory in the Parliament.
This triumph swiftly elevated Fico the Prime Minister position merely two years after Slovakia’s entry into the European Union (EU). By forming an alliance with the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), which shared his staunch anti-refugee stance and populist leanings, Fico cemented his authority as a leftist leader.
Capitalising on the backdrop of the 2008 global financial crisis, Fico strategically bolstered his public support by rejecting austerity measures. Slovakia’s integration into the eurozone in 2009 marked the zenith of Fico’s initial four-year tenure as prime minister.
During the European refugee influx of 2015, Fico took a tough stance on migration, firmly opposing the creation of a separate Muslim community in Slovakia and strongly criticising the EU’s refugee quota program.
In 2018, amidst controversy surrounding the tragic murder of Slovakian investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Fico and his government resigned. Kuciak’s investigations had implicated high-ranking Slovak politicians in tax-related wrongdoing.
Over time, the experienced leader gained notoriety for his verbal assaults on journalists and was charged with criminal offences in 2022, including the alleged establishment of a criminal organisation and abuse of power.
Robert Fico is married to lawyer Svetlana Ficova with whom he has one son Michal although Slovak Media have reported that the couple has separated. Fluent in English, he is known to enjoy fast cars and football and has a soft spot for expensive watches. His favourite saying is “patience always brings red roses.”
