'Pigeok' Slovakian Prime Minister Hawkish... "Optimistic about Yehu, No Need for Acting Duty"

'Attack' Slovakian Prime Minister Somewhat Aggressive... "No Need for Acting Official"

AP News reported on the 18th (local time) that the condition of Roberto Picho (59), the Slovakian Prime Minister who was critically injured in a shooting, has somewhat improved.

The Slovak Ministry of Health stated in a press release that day that Prime Minister Picho's condition is stabilizing. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Roberto Kali??k also said, "We are gradually viewing the Prime Minister's prognosis optimistically." Deputy Prime Minister Kali??k emphasized, "Although limited, we are communicating with Prime Minister Picho," and added, "There will be no need to officially act on his duties."

On the 18th of last month, Roberto Picho, Prime Minister of Slovakia, visited the European Union (EU) headquarters in Brussels.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the suspect who was arrested immediately after shooting Prime Minister Picho appeared for the first time in court in Pezinok, a suburb of Bratislava, on the same day. The interior of the courtroom was not open to the media.

The suspect was identified as a 71-year-old amateur writer who has published three poetry collections, but the judicial authorities have not disclosed specific personal information. Some local media reported that he previously worked as a security guard at a shopping mall and is currently retired. It is known that the suspect decided to assassinate Prime Minister Picho for political motives shortly after last month's election.

During his tenure, Prime Minister Picho, who had shown a pro-Russian stance, was shot on the afternoon of the 15th while meeting supporters after a cabinet meeting in Handlov?, a village on the outskirts of Bratislava. Of the five shots fired by the suspect, three hit his abdomen and chest. Immediately after the shooting, he was in critical condition and was urgently transported to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for about five hours. Two days later, he received additional surgery to remove necrotic tissue.