Biography of Robert Fico
Robert Fico is the Prime Minister of Slovakia, a politician, and a statesman known for his authoritarian leadership style. He founded and leads the party "Direction – Social Democracy" ("Smer"), which he positioned as a "third way party." He's widely viewed as a pro-Russian politician who champions close ties with Russia. In 2024, he survived an assassination attempt that left him with gunshot wounds, eventually returning to active politics.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Robert was born in the fall of 1964 to Ľudovít Fico and Emília Ficová in the village of Topoľčany, western Slovakia. His parents were working-class: his mother sold shoes at a local store, and his father operated a forklift.Robert also has a brother, Ladislav, who is in the construction business, and a sister, Lucia, who became a prosecutor. His sister is 14 years younger than Robert.
Until he was six, the family lived in the village of Hrušovany, then moved to Topoľčany.
From childhood, Fico showed strong leadership traits, always putting his goals first and pursuing them relentlessly. As a teenager, Robert developed an interest in Marxist-Leninist ideology. He dreamed of visiting Moscow to see Lenin's Mausoleum and the preserved body of the communist leader.
After finishing school, Fico entered the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava. He specialized in criminal law and earned his doctorate, defending a dissertation on "The Death Penalty in Czechoslovakia" in 1992.
After graduation, he completed mandatory military service as an assistant to a military investigator. He then worked at the Institute of State and Law of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, taught for a period, and earned high respect from his students.
Fico joined the Communist Party at 23, and after the Velvet Revolution, he moved to the Party of the Democratic Left, which essentially served as the Communist Party's successor following the collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe.
Political Career
1992 proved to be a pivotal year for Fico. He was elected to parliament, spent time working at the Ministry of Justice, and represented Slovakia at the European Court of Human Rights.In 1999, Robert founded and led the "Direction – Social Democracy" party (Smer), which he described in speeches as a third way party.
In 2006, he became Prime Minister and governed Slovakia for four years.
In 2012, early elections were held, with Fico securing a convincing victory and reclaiming the Prime Minister's seat. At that time, he managed to form a single-party government and ran in the presidential election. He reached the second round but received only 40% of the vote compared to 59% for independent candidate Andrej Kiska.
After the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak, spontaneous protests against the government erupted. The journalist suspected Fico of having ties to the Italian mafia and was preparing an exposé. In 2018, the politician resigned, although the court did not find him guilty.
In 2023, Fico returned as Prime Minister following Smer's victory in parliamentary elections, advocating for peace negotiations while refusing to supply military equipment to a neighboring country. Fico supported Russia in the Russo-Ukrainian War, considering the Kremlin's actions justified. The Prime Minister believed Vladimir Putin made the right decision in halting NATO's eastward expansion. He vowed to veto Ukraine's NATO membership application and called sanctions against Russia useless and senseless.
Robert Fico's Personal Life
In 1988, Robert married Svetlana Svobodova, who also studied law. He met her while both were studying law at Comenius University in Bratislava. Svetlana worked for some time at the Ministry of Justice in Bratislava.The couple soon had a son, Michal, who later graduated from the same university's Faculty of Economics where his parents had studied. He is now engaged in entrepreneurship.
In 2016, Robert Fico underwent heart surgery, receiving a double bypass. Doctors strictly forbade him from any active pursuits, at least initially, but the politician returned to work as soon as he left his hospital bed.
Fico was never considered a model family man and faced accusations of numerous affairs, including with model Maria Troskova and the secretary of the "Smer" party, Jana Hlasova.
Robert Fico Now
In May 2024, Slovakia's biggest news was the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister. On May 15, at an offsite Slovak government meeting in Handlová, Fico emerged to greet the crowd when shots rang out. The politician was wounded in the abdomen and chest.At the hospital, he underwent one operation lasting more than three hours, followed by another. He remained in a coma for some time. The shooter, 70-year-old writer Juraj Cintula, immediately confessed after his arrest that he disapproved of the government's political direction.
Beyond the assassination attempt itself, investigators considered other theories and soon obtained evidence that the shooter didn't act alone. The assassination attempt was reclassified as a terrorist act.
Meanwhile, Fico recovered and his health stabilized. At the end of May, he was discharged from the hospital for home rehabilitation. Though he still had some musculoskeletal issues, Robert Fico stated that he forgives his attacker:
After all, it's clear that he was merely an envoy of evil and political hatred, which political failures and a disillusioned opposition have developed in Slovakia to insurmountable proportions. I have no reason to think that this was an attack by a crazy lone wolf.
Interesting Facts
- Robert Fico is widely regarded as both a skilled politician and a fascinating personality. He famously doesn't use a mobile phone at work and maintains a daily exercise routine. He's championed the construction of new sports centers nationwide, though critics claim it's a popularity play.
- In a move that stunned observers, Fico actually worked a night shift at an automotive parts factory:
I worked a similar shift years ago, so I know firsthand what night work is like. Slovakia remains one of the countries with substantial night shift employment
, he said. - Fico possesses an incredible memory, recalling people and details with remarkable precision. He speaks English, Russian, and Czech fluently. He's authored multiple books and countless publications on governmental and legal matters. He identifies as a Catholic.
Important Life Events
- 1986: Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Comenius University in Bratislava. Successfully defended his doctoral thesis.
- 1988: Married lawyer Svetlana Svobodova. They have a son, Michael.
- 1992: Elected to the Slovak parliament.
- 1994: Worked as Slovakia's agent at the European Commission on Human Rights.
- 1999: Founded and headed the "Direction – Social Democracy" party (Smer).
- 2006: His party won the parliamentary elections, claiming victory. Became the country's Prime Minister.
- 2010: Resigned from office.
- 2012: His party swept the parliamentary elections, securing a majority. Became the Prime Minister for the second time.
- 2018: Stepped down following the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée.
- 2022: Supported Russia, opposed military support for Ukraine.
- 2023: His "Smer" party won the parliamentary elections, capturing 42 seats. Became the Prime Minister for the third time.
- 2024: Survived an assassination attempt, returned to political activity.