The government reports that Slovakia’s PM Fico is remains in critical care following an attempted murder

The government of Slovakia said on Friday that Prime Minister Robert Fico is still in critical condition, two days after the small Central European country was shocked and the whole community condemned the murder attempt that left Fico shot at close range.

Local media had earlier reported that Slovak medical professionals would convene on Monday to determine whether to transfer the hours-long surgical patient, Fico, from the central city of Banska Bystrica, where he is receiving treatment, to the capital city of Bratislava.

The administration promised to release more details about Fico’s health “when the situation allows” in a brief statement. When Reuters asked the hospital for comment, the facility did not reply.

During a quick visit to the hospital on Thursday, Fico’s close ally and incoming president of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, stated that Fico had been able to speak a little.

A man has been charged with attempted murder by Slovakian police. He is a 71-year-old author of three poetry collections and a former mall security guard, according to local news sources. No official confirmation of his identification has been provided.

According to TV Makriza, the suspect was there when police searched his house in the central town of Levice for several hours. He carried a plastic bag and other goods and wore a helmet and protective vest.

Police officers with guns and bulletproof vests were on patrol outside his house.

The shooting, which drew widespread outrage, was the first significant attempt on the life of a political leader in Europe in over 20 years. Lawmakers and political observers claim that it has revealed a heated and divisive political environment in Slovakia as well as throughout Europe.

On Friday, Fico was still “between life and death,” according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, speaking on public radio.

Orban continued, “Even if Fico gets better, he will be unemployed for months at a critical period leading up to the elections for the European Parliament, which are scheduled for early next month.”

“We are facing an election that will decide not just about members of European Parliament but along with the U.S. election can determine the course of war and peace in Europe,” Orban stated.

Both Fico and Orban have criticized the sanctions placed on Russia as well as the transfer of Western weapons to Ukraine.