On His First Working Day After the Assassination Attempt, Slovak PM Fico Leaves Bratislava to Inspect Grain Harvest

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico made his first working trip outside the capital Bratislava the day before, after resuming his duties since the assassination attempt, Postoj reports. He was photographed in a field, used a cane and did not answer questions from the media. He cannot stand for long, but he can still spread hatred, Dennik writes.

At the inauguration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, which cost approximately 450,000 euros, Prime Minister Robert Fico gave a speech full of anger and hatred. Even now, after the assassination attempt, when all other politicians are calling for more conciliatory language, he used unacceptable associations like progressive and liberal ideology spreading like cancer or poison. He added that to protect against these harmful ideologies, the constitution needs to be changed again.

Together with Agriculture Minister Richard Takacs, Fico visited a farm in Slovenska Nova Ves, northeast of the capital Bratislava, to inspect the grain harvest.

In a brief statement, Fico said that Slovakia was not ready to lift the ban on agricultural imports from Ukraine and thanked the farmers for their work.

It was his first official trip outside the capital since recovering from a May 15 attack in which he was shot in the stomach while greeting supporters in the town of Handlova, 140 kilometres from the capital.

Fico made his first public appearance since the assassination attempt on Friday, when he delivered a speech at a national holiday.