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.

Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova said today the heads of Slovakian political parties would be meeting to attempt to promote calm.

“Let us step out of the vicious circle of hatred and mutual accusations,” Ms Caputova said. “The tense atmosphere of hatred was our collective work.”

President-elect Peter Pellegrini said parties should scale back campaigning for next month’s European elections to avoid stand-offs and confrontations at rallies.