Slovakia: Prime Minister Shooter Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison

Published 21 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

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Above: Juraj Cintula, being sentenced in the attempted assassination case of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, on Oct. 21, 2025. Image copyright: Robert Nemeti/Contributor/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

The 21-year terrorism sentence for Juraj Cintula sends the right message that political violence has no place in democracy. Cintula deliberately targeted a sitting Prime Minister to disrupt the functioning of the government. Justice prevailed with this serious sentence for a particularly egregious act of political violence.

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Government-critical narrative

Cintula's unacceptable attack must also be viewed against the backdrop of Fico's authoritarian drift and alignment with Russia, which is damaging Slovak democracy. It's vital to discuss the democratic backsliding that's permeating Slovakia's political landscape.

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