Fico Demands Apology from Food Inspectors Over Lángos Fine, Confirms German Chancellor Merz Won't Visit

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico demanded an apology from food inspectors who issued fines related to lángos, a traditional fried bread, during a press conference in Handlová marking the second anniversary of the assassination attempt against him. Fico, leader of the ruling social-democratic party Smer-SD, also confirmed that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not be visiting Slovakia as previously planned. The prime minister held the press conference with his closest Smer party members in the same town where he was shot in May 2022 while greeting supporters after a government meeting. The assassination attempt, which left Fico seriously wounded, became a defining moment in Slovak politics and has been regularly commemorated by the prime minister and his party since his recovery and return to office.