スロバキア首相が反政府派批判 銃撃後初のビデオ演説で

【ブラチスラバ（スロバキア）ＡＦＰ＝時事】スロバキアのロベルト・フィツォ首相（５９）は５日、先月１５日に銃撃されて以降初めて動画を通じて演説し、自身の暗殺未遂につながる「憎悪」を醸成したのは反政府だと非難した。（写真はスロバキアのロベルト・フィツォ首相。同国政府公開の動画より）
　フィツォ氏は中部ハンドロバで行われた会合の会場付近で支持者にあいさつ中、４発の銃弾を受けて重傷を負い、病院で治療を受けていた。計画的殺人未遂の疑いで逮捕・訴追された詩人のユライ・チントゥラ容疑者（７１）は依然、勾留されている。
　フィツォ氏はフェイスブックに投稿された約１４分間のビデオメッセージの中で、「容疑者に対する憎しみはない」とし、「彼を許す。なぜあんなことをしたのか自分の頭の中で整理してもらいたい」と語った。
　また、容疑者は「頭のおかしな男」ではなく、反政府的な動機によって形成された「悪と政治的憎悪の使者」だと主張。自身の政治的立場を強く擁護する一方で、反政府派や政権に批判的なメディア、ＮＧＯを非難した。
　今後については、「順調なら６月末か７月初めには徐々に職務に復帰できるだろう」と述べた。
　フィツォ氏は昨年１０月、自身３度目となる首相に返り咲いた後、ロシアの侵攻を受けるウクライナへの武器供与を停止するなど、対ウクライナ関係で強硬路線を貫いていた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/06-18:59）

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday blamed his opponents for fostering the hatred that led to an assassination attempt against him, in his first address since the shooting.
Looking calm but speaking with long pauses, the 59-year-old also said in the video on Facebook that he could resume work as early as this month.
I feel no hatred towards the stranger who shot me, Fico said.
I forgive him and let him sort out what he did and why he did it in his own head.
But Fico said the accused gunman was not some madman but a messenger of the evil and political hatred fostered by the opposition in Slovakia.
Fico was shot four times at close range on May 15 as he greeted supporters after a government meeting in the central town of Handlova.
The alleged perpetrator, identified by Slovak media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula, has been charged with premeditated attempted murder and remanded in custody.
Fico was taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Banska Bystrica after the shooting, where he underwent two lengthy surgeries.
He was transferred for home treatment to the capital Bratislava on May 31.
- 'There will be more victims' -
Fico said in the video posted on Wednesday that if everything goes as planned, I could gradually return to work at the turn of June and July.
But most of the 14-minute message was devoted to a robust defence of his views and accusations against political opponents, critical media and non-governmental organisations.
The opposition was unable to assess... where their aggressive and hateful politics has led a section of society and it was only a matter of time before a tragedy would occur.
If it continues as it is now, the horror of May 15... will continue and there will be more victims. I don't doubt it, not for a second, he said.
Fico came to power most recently following elections last year and previously headed governments in 2006-10 and 2012-18.
He was forced to resign in 2018 after an investigative journalist's murder exposed high-level corruption and sparked anti-government sentiment.
Since returning to office last October, Fico has made a string of remarks that have soured ties between Slovakia and neighbouring Ukraine.
He has questioned Ukraine's sovereignty and called for a compromise with Russia, which invaded in 2022.
After he was elected, Slovakia stopped sending weapons to Ukraine.
He also sparked mass protests with controversial changes, including a media law that critics say will undermine the impartiality of public television and radio.