The Slovak society has called for calm among people holding different political opinions after Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot Wednesday.

Fico sustained four gunshot wounds in an attack when he greeted supporters after chairing a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova.

According to the F. D. Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica where Fico is staying, the Slovak prime minister is awake and stable in intensive care after undergoing another operation on Friday.

Outside the hospital where Fico is fighting for his life, many local residents gathered to pray for the prime minister, hoping that he will recover soon and, along with him, the country.

"There is a lot of hate in our society and it's unfortunate. And this is the result," said Vladimir Radka, a local resident who was holding a Slovak flag.

On Thursday, Peter Pellegrini, Slovak president-elect, visited the wounded prime minister at the hospital.

He called upon those who holding different political opinions not to resort to violence.

"We have to ask the people not to fight against each other, only because they have other political views or something like that. And we have to stop this high and very huge tension in our society," said Pellegrini.

Political analysts said the tense atmosphere in Slovakia can be partially attributed to seemingly endless rounds of political campaigns that began last September. The country had gone through parliamentary elections campaign, which was followed by a presidential election campaign, and now the European Parliament elections campaign is underway.

Pellegrini on Thursday called all political parties to suspend their campaigning for the European Parliament elections, which set to take place in early June, to avoid further political confrontation.

"I'm really proud of our politicians that all of them condemned the situation and all of them spoke to people that we need to calm down the situation," said Martin Klus, a former State Secretary of Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

SHOTLIST:

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia - May 15, 2024
1. Various of local resident Vladimir Radka waving national flag of Slovakia outside F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital, praying for injured Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico;
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Vladimir Radka, local resident:
"There is a lot of hate in our society and it's unfortunate. And this is the result.";

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia - May 16, 2024
3. Slovak President-elect Peter Pellegrini walking;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Peter Pellegrini, Slovak President-elect:
"We have to ask the people not to fight against each other, only because they have other political views or something like that. And we have to stop this high and very huge tension in our society.";
5. Various of political campaign posters along road, traffic;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Klus, former State Secretary, Slovakia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs:
"I'm really proud of our politicians that all of them condemned the situation and all of them spoke to people that we need to calm down the situation.";

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia - May 15, 2024
7. Various of people praying outside hospital;
8. National flag of Slovakia, flag of European Union.

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