currently in your dividing lines currently in your country, that is very difficult to somehow grapple with, and unify around. we somehow grapple with, and unify around. ~ . , . around. we are facing difficult challenges. — around. we are facing difficult challenges, and _ around. we are facing difficult challenges, and slovakia - around. we are facing difficult challenges, and slovakia is i around. we are facing difficult challenges, and slovakia is in | challenges, and slovakia is in neighbouring countries ukraine, we are facing the challenge of being a country where our neighbours territories and ongoing war, and migration is something we see every summer, because migrants travel to slovakia, but i am sure there are ways to solve it in a peaceful way, because what i've seen in the last few years, many politicians turn to be very personal in their attacks of other politicians, and this is just not the way to go, because that's what actually promotes the aggression, and also the emotions

among the citizens, therefore the politicians should really watch their language, and they should watch the way they speak publicly, and it needs to be about a battle of solutions, battle of ideas, not about dirty language, not about accusations of each other, but about serving people. how accusations of each other, but about serving maple-— accusations of each other, but about serving purple-— serving people. how well do you ourself serving people. how well do you yourself know— serving people. how well do you yourself know robert _ serving people. how well do you yourself know robert fico? - serving people. how well do you | yourself know robert fico? well, serving people. how well do you - yourself know robert fico? well, he is my political— yourself know robert fico? well, he is my political opponent, _ yourself know robert fico? well, he is my political opponent, i _ yourself know robert fico? well, he is my political opponent, i know- yourself know robert fico? well, he is my political opponent, i know him personally through meetings we had, several political debates, so, yeah, definitely we know each other�*s personally, we have met several times over the years, i know him as a person, but he is my political opponent so it's not like we would be on the same side. i opponent so it's not like we would be on the same side.— opponent so it's not like we would be on the same side. i know across euro e, be on the same side. i know across eur0pe. and _ be on the same side. i know across eur0pe. and i— be on the same side. i know across europe, and i went _ be on the same side. i know across europe, and i went through - be on the same side. i know across europe, and i went through the - europe, and i went through the reaction there has been from 70 different european leaders to go before we can do, and we heard all

of that, i suppose this resonates with politicians whatever their political hue because so many of them, in so many of those countries, they are used to doing public engagements, public meetings like this, and i suppose is a politician there must be many times, actually, when you think about it, that you do feel exposed. i when you think about it, that you do feel “posed-— feel exposed. i think every politician _ feel exposed. i think every politician now _ feel exposed. i think every politician now feels - feel exposed. i think every i politician now feels exposed, feel exposed. i think every - politician now feels exposed, but we have to put this aside. it's not about individuals, it's about the atmosphere in the society, and i think this is the time to really turn around from the polarisation and the aggression, and really bring the democracy for meaning, and that is the meaning of service to the people, of democratic elections but

also about thoughts and ideas and solutions, not a battle among people, and definitely not any violence. democratic society, and in what they speak about because slovakia, czechoslovakia used to be under the tyrannical regime of communism, and five years ago we got the freedom, but the freedom is also about peace and good living for its citizens, so this should be the priority, and therefore we need to bring democracy back to its roots, providing a better life for its citizens, and not fear or anger or violence. that's definitely not acceptable. wyatt my previous guest was saying that he would like to see in the coming hours— in the coming hours people coming out in front — in the coming hours people coming out in front of— in the coming hours people coming out in front of television _ in the coming hours people coming out in front of television cameras l out in front of television cameras to be my camera is putting out a

unified message. do you agree? we are unified message. do you agree? - are condemning the attack and wishing a speedy recovery to the prime minister, i think this is the way to go, and also in the coalition we should have this language of really showing society, showing the citizens that violence is unacceptable, and if there is a battle it's a battle of ideas, of solutions, for better living of people, but it shouldn't be attacking each other, it shouldn't be condemning each other�*s personalities, but really speaking about bringing you better solutions for life and starting to discuss, as we said, unity, how to reduce

polarisation and anger in society evenin polarisation and anger in society even in these difficult times, and even in these difficult times, and evenin even in these difficult times, and even in these difficult times, and even in the times of challenges like war in neighbouring countries, night migration, climate change, and also health care. i migration, climate change, and also health care-— health care. i need to get in, because _ health care. i need to get in, because it — health care. i need to get in, because it is _ health care. i need to get in, because it is a _ health care. i need to get in, because it is a difficult - health care. i need to get in, because it is a difficult line. | health care. i need to get in, because it is a difficult line. i can see you are moving in the car, but we are very grateful that you have taken the time to speak to us on a day like today, so thank you forjoining us here at bbc news. you continue to see the pictures of the moments after the prime minister, when shots were fired, he was hit multiple times, and then within about half an hour he is there, arriving at hospital, initially taking away by car, then transferred by helicopter, and is at the scenes it is taken there into the hospital

with all those medics surrounding him. no update so far in the last hour, hourand a half, in terms him. no update so far in the last hour, hour and a half, in terms of his condition. we were told, the writers noise news agency was told by spokesman there were life threatening injuries, i'm told to his condition is stabilised, until there is unease about operations, we won't get an update, but these were pictures that he was taken into hospital. let usjust pictures that he was taken into hospital. let us just pause from those pictures to try to get a better sense of who robert fico is, because he came to prominence in slovakia, he is 59 years old and grew up in what was then czechoslovakia which was the soviet satellite states behind is what is known as the iron curtain, he studied law and join the communist party in 1986. after the velvet

revolution in 1989, which brought down the commonest regime, he continued his career in politics and left—wing parties, then he founded his own party, direction social democracy in english, and by 2006 it was the biggest party in terms of size, he became prime minister again between 2012 in 2018, and took up the office once again in 2023. in terms of policies, he is seen as being a populist and also a nationalist. he opposed the european commission plans to distribute refugees and migrants from the middle east and africa around the eu, saying he would not accept mandatory quotas. you can termed russia's invasion of ukraine in 2022 but has been critical of eu

sanctions against moscow. he is also opposed ukrainejoining nato. that is the backdrop to the ark of the career of the prior minister. let's speak now to a political economist, previously senior adviser to the slovakian foreign affairs minister. thank you for being here with us. you must be hugely shocked by what you've seen today.— you've seen today. indeed i am, i was deeply _ you've seen today. indeed i am, i was deeply shocked, _ you've seen today. indeed i am, i was deeply shocked, it _ you've seen today. indeed i am, i was deeply shocked, it is - you've seen today. indeed i am, i was deeply shocked, it is really . was deeply shocked, it is really tragic news in the sense that it is testament to what extent we are living through a democratic crisis, you could even say in slovakia right now. ., , ., you could even say in slovakia right now. ., i. ., , you could even say in slovakia right now. ., ., ., now. how well did you actually know him, did you — now. how well did you actually know him, did you know— now. how well did you actually know him, did you know him _ now. how well did you actually know him, did you know him personally? l him, did you know him personally? no, i did not know mr robert fico personally, but it is a well—known political figure,

personally, but it is a well—known politicalfigure, also personally, but it is a well—known political figure, also a controversial political figure, especially in the last years, but simply lines have been cross that should never have been crossed, and i'm glad to see that this violence has been so widely and broadly condemned by political leaders around the world and in europe, and also from opposition leaders in slovakia, that is a good signal, and it is nice to see. i slovakia, that is a good signal, and it is nice to see.— it is nice to see. i will come back to that thought _ it is nice to see. i will come back to that thought in _ it is nice to see. i will come back to that thought in a _ it is nice to see. i will come back to that thought in a moment. - it is nice to see. i will come back| to that thought in a moment. we talked about red lines being cross that should never have been crossed, tell me more about what you mean about that. ~ , ., tell me more about what you mean about that-— about that. well, first of all, may be is a fun _ about that. well, first of all, may be is a fun fact, _ about that. well, first of all, may be is a fun fact, the _ about that. well, first of all, may be is a fun fact, the reason - about that. well, first of all, may be is a fun fact, the reason why l about that. well, first of all, mayj be is a fun fact, the reason why it is so shocking is because we don't see these things, it is unprecedented. i don't think there has been an attempt, assassination attempt on the european prime minister or leader in the last 38 years or so, so even by this measure it is really shocking, but also the

shooting comes at a time of deep, even i would say unprecedented social and political polarisation in slovakia and beyond, and that is why i'm glad to see that the attack has been strongly condemned by the opposition, and also by the coalition, of course, but one thing that i am really hopeful is that this is not something that will be weaponised and used to further polarise the political scene in slovakia, because as i said, this is a testament to how bad things already are, so i hope this will not be an inflection point, for this narrative to be hijacked for political ends for the ruling coalition.— coalition. we are seeing pictures those who _ coalition. we are seeing pictures those who are _ coalition. we are seeing pictures those who are speaking - coalition. we are seeing pictures those who are speaking of - coalition. we are seeing pictures those who are speaking of the i coalition. we are seeing pictures - those who are speaking of the event itself in the immediate aftermath, i mean, tell me more, in terms of his

political style, because several contributors have made the point that he liked being out there meeting groups, meeting people. yeah, i think he is widely regarded as a populist leader, and he was definitely very much in touch with his electorate, of course pre—election and during the election, but all along, pre—election and during the election, but allalong, i pre—election and during the election, but all along, i would say, this happened after an off—site government meeting in handlova, a town about 150 kilometres from bratislava, the capital, and he went out after the government meeting to greet people, as he usually does, so he does stay in touch with people, so i think this is something he does on a regular basis, so i don't think, even though the society and politics is so polarised in slovakia right now, i don't think anyone could see this sort of development

coming, so it was quite shocking, i think we are all quite shaken. do ou think we are all quite shaken. do you think there is any chance in the next two hours, days and weeks, that the polarisation which you are talking about, because it is a fundamental division of ideas over a direction, is there any chance that a gap of such size could be bridged? i wish i could say yes, but to be frank with you, i'm a little worried, because some of the first reaction that we have seen from the coalition leaders and ministers, they were quite quick to blame the opposition and attack the opposition, including the deputy prime minister, including the

minister of culture, who said explicitly that this is the result of the hate politics of the opposition, including deputy speaker of the national council of the slovak republic, who said that the coalition is going to toughen its stance towards the media, and indirectly blamed the media community. so, i don't think this is really helpful, and i think we will see more of this, so i wish i could say that this would be a wake—up call, but this is to be seen, and this kind of rhetoric is definitely not helpful. this kind of rhetoric is definitely not helpful-— this kind of rhetoric is definitely not helful. ~ . , ,, . this kind of rhetoric is definitely not helful. ~ . , , ., . ., not helpful. what is your reading of the various — not helpful. what is your reading of the various reaction _ not helpful. what is your reading of the various reaction we _ not helpful. what is your reading of the various reaction we have - not helpful. what is your reading of the various reaction we have had i the various reaction we have had across europe, political leaders, because one contributor earlier was saying, this is what europe is drifting towards. do you get that sense that there is some sort of shift that is a worrying shift? i think we see it every day on social

media, in the popular rhetoric of people, and what kind of strong statements and strong hateful messages are being spread a rise both sides of the spectrum, so we see the strength happening,, and for the european community and beyond. i'm sure many people would agree with that final thought. there we have to leave it. ijust want to take our views to the live page, continuing live coverage available for you on those dramatic events happening in the last few hours in slovakia. live from london. this is bbc news. slovakia's prime minister is shot and injured as he left

a government meeting — the interior ministry says it was an assassination attempt. this is the moment the alleged attacker was apprehended and arrested at the scene. reports say the prime minister was hit several times. in slovakia as president has expressed her shock as she addressed the nation. �* ,, �* expressed her shock as she addressed the nation. ~ ,, ~ . the nation. translation: i am shocked. we're _ the nation. translation: i am shocked. we're all _ the nation. translation: i am shocked. we're all shocked - the nation. translation: i am shocked. we're all shocked by l the nation. translation: | am | shocked. we're all shocked by the terrible and vicious attack on prime minister robert fico. this is scene now in handlova — as more details are still emerging about the incident. many, many questions. we will try and answer them here in the next 60 minutes. hello i'm matthew amroliwala.