After Being Shot, Slovakia’s Leader Targets His Enemies
- Robert Fico has initiated a purge of various officials and journalists after recovering from a May assassination attempt.
- Supporters see this as a necessary action against liberal elites, while critics view it as a vindictive assault on dissenters.
- The actions raise concerns about Slovakia's political future and its alignment with Western values.
After recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during a May assassination attempt, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico returned to work and initiated a purge targeting various officials and journalists he blames for fostering an environment of hostility against him. This campaign has included anticorruption prosecutors, cultural leaders, and media figures, which Fico claims contributed to the aggression that led to his attack. His supporters view this as a necessary cleansing of a system they believe is dominated by liberal elites. However, critics argue that this purge is a vindictive move against those who oppose him, raising concerns about the diminishing space for dissent in Slovakia. Observers in Bratislava fear that Fico's actions signal a shift towards an illiberal governance style similar to that of Hungary's Viktor Orban, with implications for Slovakia's relationship with the West and a potential warming to Russia. The rapid pace and broad scope of these actions have left many feeling apprehensive about the future of political discourse in the country.