Slovakia probes Handlová shooting and related political scandal involving PM Fico

Authorities in Slovakia are examining the Handlová shooting that wounded Prime Minister Robert Fico, where an assailant fired five rounds in a matter of seconds, four of which struck the premier. The incident has raised questions about the performance of the Office for the Protection of Constitutional Officials, with criticism directed at its head Pavol Krejčí and interior minister Matúš Šútaj. Former police president Štefan Hamran described the response as chaotic and a failure to secure the protected official promptly.

At the same time, a separate court case involving former police chief Tibor Gašpar has highlighted political tensions, portraying former President Andrej Kiska as a principal adversary of Gašpar. The overlapping investigations underscore internal disputes within Slovakia’s ruling Smer party and its security apparatus.