Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico's health has improved "slightly", the hospital where he is being treated has said, AFP reports.
Last week, the Slovak prime minister was shot and seriously wounded while greeting supporters in the central city of Handlova.
The attack raised fears of deepening divisions in the politically polarised country.
Fico underwent two lengthy operations at the hospital in the central town of Banska Bystrica and his condition has since been described as stable but serious.
In its latest daily update on Fico's condition, the hospital said, "The development of the prime minister's health is stable with slight improvement. We believe that this progress will continue."
His closest political ally, Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kaliniak, announced on 22 May that Fico would remain in the hospital in Banska Bystrica for the time being, as transporting him to another medical facility was "categorically out of the question".
The accused shooter, identified by Slovak media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula, has been charged with premeditated attempted murder and is in custody.
According to a court document, the suspect said he shot Fico to oppose the government's policy towards Ukraine.
"During the interrogation, he stated that because he disagreed with the policies of the current government, he had decided to act," wrote pre-trial judge Roman Puchowski.
In particular, the defendant clarified that he disagreed with the government's decision to abolish the special prosecutor's office and stop sending military aid to Ukraine, as well as with the alleged persecution of the media.
The assassination attempt shocked EU member Slovakia, where 59-year-old Fico took office in October after his Smer party won parliamentary elections.
Now in his fourth term as prime minister, Fico has soured relations with Ukraine after questioning the sovereignty of the neighbouring country, which is battling a Russian invasion. / BGNES
