SLOVAK Prime Minister Roberto Fico is in a “serious but stable” condition following his attempted assassination on Wednesday, authorities say.

A suspect has been apprehended and Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok said police have identified a “clear political motivation” for the attack, without specifying it.

Mr Fico’s government has faced opposition demos against reforms critics say politicise the state broadcaster and place restrictions on foreign-funded NGOs, as well as hostility from the EU and US for his refusal to toe Nato’s line on Ukraine.