Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is expected to face ongoing health issues following an assassination attempt in May, although he is nearing a return to work at "full potential," according to Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Robert Kalinak.

"His health is still far from ideal. After a gunshot wound to the abdomen, those organs don't work the way they did when you were 17 or 30. It's still very erratic. As part of his regular rehab, doctors are doing everything they can to make sure he can do his job to his full potential, and we're getting close to that," Kalinak told Euronews.

Kalinak also mentioned that Fico might continue to experience musculoskeletal problems even after rehabilitation. The defense minister noted that Fico is expected to address the public soon, though he provided no details on the format of the speech.

Suspect in Slovak PM shooting cites Ukraine policy as motive: Court

Earlier, in May, AFP reported that the individual accused of attempting to assassinate Fico stated that he carried out the act in opposition to the government's policy towards Ukraine.

After being swiftly taken to the hospital, he underwent two extensive surgeries at a nearby facility in Banska Bystrica. 

The suspected shooter, identified by Slovak media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula, has been accused of premeditated attempted murder and was detained pending trial following a hearing on Saturday.

In addition to his current stint as premier, Fico headed the government in 2006-10 and 2012-18. Since returning to office last October, Fico has made a series of remarks that have soured ties between Slovakia and neighboring Ukraine. After he was elected, Slovakia stopped sending weapons to Ukraine. He had already pledged during the electoral campaign not to provide Kiev with "a single bullet."

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