Attacker slams Slovak PM as shooting trial begins
Juraj Cintula, 72, acknowledges shooting the prime minister in May 2024 but denies intending to kill him.
Prosecutors call it an act of terrorism.
Asked by a reporter as he was being led into the Specialised Criminal Court building in the small city of Banska Bystrica why he had shot the prime minister, Cintula said: "Because he throttled culture."
"Long live free culture!" he shouted on Tuesday as he was being led in shackles on hands and feet, dressed in a light blue-violet button shirt.
"Long live democracy!"
Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova told the court that authorities had rejected an offer from Cintula's defence team to settle the case by accepting a 12-year prison sentence.
"Cintula acted to disable (Fico) permanently from performing his duty as prime minister and thus prevent the government from its proper functioning," Habcakova said.
In the court, Cintula's defence lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge, as not every attack on an official was terrorism and Cintula acted solely against Fico.
The attacker fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand.
Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen.
The shooting exacerbated political tension in Slovakia.
Fico, 60, a populist in power for 11 years over three stints since 2006, has blamed the mostly liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering a climate of anger that led to the shooting. His political opponents say they had nothing to do with it.
Cintula, a pensioner and former mine worker, stonemason and security guard, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture.
Since returning to power in 2023 on a platform of opposing military aid to Ukraine and seeking better relations with Moscow, Fico has repeatedly clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO.
He has also pushed through criminal law and media changes which opponents say undermine democracy.
Echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary, he has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms.
Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier in 2025, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup, which organisers deny.
Fico has said he has forgiven Cintula and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify.
The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further hearings possible later in 2025 before a verdict is reached.
The man who shot and seriously wounded Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has railed against Fico as he was led in shackles into court at the start of a trial that could see him jailed for life.
Juraj Cintula, 72, acknowledges shooting the prime minister in May 2024 but denies intending to kill him.
Prosecutors call it an act of terrorism.
Asked by a reporter as he was being led into the Specialised Criminal Court building in the small city of Banska Bystrica why he had shot the prime minister, Cintula said: "Because he throttled culture."
"Long live free culture!" he shouted on Tuesday as he was being led in shackles on hands and feet, dressed in a light blue-violet button shirt.
"Long live democracy!"
Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova told the court that authorities had rejected an offer from Cintula's defence team to settle the case by accepting a 12-year prison sentence.
"Cintula acted to disable (Fico) permanently from performing his duty as prime minister and thus prevent the government from its proper functioning," Habcakova said.
In the court, Cintula's defence lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge, as not every attack on an official was terrorism and Cintula acted solely against Fico.
The attacker fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand.
Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen.
The shooting exacerbated political tension in Slovakia.
Fico, 60, a populist in power for 11 years over three stints since 2006, has blamed the mostly liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering a climate of anger that led to the shooting. His political opponents say they had nothing to do with it.
Cintula, a pensioner and former mine worker, stonemason and security guard, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture.
Since returning to power in 2023 on a platform of opposing military aid to Ukraine and seeking better relations with Moscow, Fico has repeatedly clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO.
He has also pushed through criminal law and media changes which opponents say undermine democracy.
Echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary, he has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms.
Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier in 2025, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup, which organisers deny.
Fico has said he has forgiven Cintula and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify.
The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further hearings possible later in 2025 before a verdict is reached.
The man who shot and seriously wounded Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has railed against Fico as he was led in shackles into court at the start of a trial that could see him jailed for life.
Juraj Cintula, 72, acknowledges shooting the prime minister in May 2024 but denies intending to kill him.
Prosecutors call it an act of terrorism.
Asked by a reporter as he was being led into the Specialised Criminal Court building in the small city of Banska Bystrica why he had shot the prime minister, Cintula said: "Because he throttled culture."
"Long live free culture!" he shouted on Tuesday as he was being led in shackles on hands and feet, dressed in a light blue-violet button shirt.
"Long live democracy!"
Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova told the court that authorities had rejected an offer from Cintula's defence team to settle the case by accepting a 12-year prison sentence.
"Cintula acted to disable (Fico) permanently from performing his duty as prime minister and thus prevent the government from its proper functioning," Habcakova said.
In the court, Cintula's defence lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge, as not every attack on an official was terrorism and Cintula acted solely against Fico.
The attacker fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand.
Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen.
The shooting exacerbated political tension in Slovakia.
Fico, 60, a populist in power for 11 years over three stints since 2006, has blamed the mostly liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering a climate of anger that led to the shooting. His political opponents say they had nothing to do with it.
Cintula, a pensioner and former mine worker, stonemason and security guard, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture.
Since returning to power in 2023 on a platform of opposing military aid to Ukraine and seeking better relations with Moscow, Fico has repeatedly clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO.
He has also pushed through criminal law and media changes which opponents say undermine democracy.
Echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary, he has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms.
Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier in 2025, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup, which organisers deny.
Fico has said he has forgiven Cintula and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify.
The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further hearings possible later in 2025 before a verdict is reached.
The man who shot and seriously wounded Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has railed against Fico as he was led in shackles into court at the start of a trial that could see him jailed for life.
Juraj Cintula, 72, acknowledges shooting the prime minister in May 2024 but denies intending to kill him.
Prosecutors call it an act of terrorism.
Asked by a reporter as he was being led into the Specialised Criminal Court building in the small city of Banska Bystrica why he had shot the prime minister, Cintula said: "Because he throttled culture."
"Long live free culture!" he shouted on Tuesday as he was being led in shackles on hands and feet, dressed in a light blue-violet button shirt.
"Long live democracy!"
Prosecutor Katarina Habcakova told the court that authorities had rejected an offer from Cintula's defence team to settle the case by accepting a 12-year prison sentence.
"Cintula acted to disable (Fico) permanently from performing his duty as prime minister and thus prevent the government from its proper functioning," Habcakova said.
In the court, Cintula's defence lawyer said the defence rejected the terrorism charge, as not every attack on an official was terrorism and Cintula acted solely against Fico.
The attacker fired five shots from a handgun from 1.2 metres as the prime minister greeted citizens in the central Slovak town of Hand.
Fico was hit four times, including in the abdomen.
The shooting exacerbated political tension in Slovakia.
Fico, 60, a populist in power for 11 years over three stints since 2006, has blamed the mostly liberal, pro-EU opposition for fostering a climate of anger that led to the shooting. His political opponents say they had nothing to do with it.
Cintula, a pensioner and former mine worker, stonemason and security guard, has told investigators he shot at Fico to hurt but not kill him, due to what he said were disagreements with the prime minister's policies on Ukraine, media and culture.
Since returning to power in 2023 on a platform of opposing military aid to Ukraine and seeking better relations with Moscow, Fico has repeatedly clashed with Slovakia's partners in the European Union and NATO.
He has also pushed through criminal law and media changes which opponents say undermine democracy.
Echoing Prime Minister Victor Orban of neighbouring Hungary, he has pledged to build a "dam against liberalism" through constitutional reforms.
Fico's tilt towards Russia triggered large public protests earlier in 2025, which he said were aimed at triggering a coup, which organisers deny.
Fico has said he has forgiven Cintula and does not intend to attend the trial unless called to testify.
The court has set hearings for Tuesday and Wednesday, with further hearings possible later in 2025 before a verdict is reached.
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The S&P 500 declined 0.33 per cent to end the session at 6,259.75 points, the Nasdaq declined 0.22 per cent to 20,585.53 points and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.63 per cent to 44,371.51 points. Volume on US exchanges was relatively light, with 15.4 billion shares traded, compared with an average of 18.3 billion shares over the previous 20 sessions. For the week, the S&P 500 dipped 0.3 per cent, the Dow lost about 1.0 per cent and the Nasdaq slipped 0.1 per cent. The S&P 500 is up about 6.0 per cent so far in 2025. Investors will soon turn their attention to second-quarter reporting season, with a focus on how Trump's on-again off-again tariffs are affecting major US companies. Among the big names reporting results next week are JPMorgan, Netflix and Johnson & Johnson. Analysts on average expect S&P 500 companies to increase their second-quarter earnings by 5.7 per cent, year over year, with big gains from tech companies and declining profits in energy, consumer staples and consumer discretionary, according to LSEG I/B/E/S. "We believe expectations are a bit low for S&P 500 earnings. Much of the second quarter was marked with tariff and trade issues and that may have caused some dislocations in earnings," said Michael Landsberg, chief investment officer, Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management. Levi Strauss & Co jumped 11 per cent after the apparel seller raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts and beat quarterly estimates. Meta Platforms shares closed 1.3 per cent lower after Reuters reported that the company is very unlikely to offer more changes to its pay-or-consent model, increasing the risk of fresh European Union antitrust charges and hefty daily fines. Kraft Heinz closed 2.5 per cent higher after the Wall Street Journal reported the company is preparing to break itself up as the packaged food maker grapples with persistent weakness in demand for its higher-priced brands. Across the US stock market, declining stocks outnumbered rising ones by a 2.8-to-one ratio. The S&P 500 posted 12 new highs and 4 new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 58 new highs and 43 new lows.
