Political situation in Slovakia

What are the main political forces in Slovakia today? And how are they connected? Here's a quick overview.

Parliamentary parties after the 2023 election

The current Slovak parliament is shaped by two main groups, with several extra-parliamentary parties remaining active outside parliament.

1. Government coalition

• The government is made up of SMER-SD (Smer – sociálna demokracia), HLAS-SD (Hlas – sociálna demokracia), and SNS (Slovenská národná strana).
  • SMER-SD (Smer – sociálna demokracia), led by Robert Fico, mixes conservative, nationalist values with socialist-style economic rhetoric and sharp criticism of the West.
  • HLAS-SD (Hlas – sociálna demokracia), led by Peter Pellegrini (a former ally of Fico), presents itself as a more moderate, centrist alternative, though it now cooperates with SMER.
  • SNS (Slovenská národná strana) is a traditional nationalist party, strongly focused on patriotism and conservative issues.
  Together, these three parties form a coalition that leans national-conservative with strong state-intervention tendencies.

2. Democratic opposition

• The opposition is a mix of liberal, progressive, and center-right forces:
  • Progressive Slovakia (Progresívne Slovensko): A liberal, pro-European party, similar to En Marche! in France.
  • Freedom and Solidarity (Sloboda a Solidarita – SaS): A liberal, economically right-leaning party.
  • Christian Democratic Movement (Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie – KDH): A classic Christian-democratic party.
  • Slovakia (Slovensko): Formerly known as OĽaNO, an anti-corruption movement led by Igor Matovič, now repositioned under a broader brand but still marked by populism and conservatism.
  These parties generally support stronger EU ties and democratic reforms, though they differ widely in style and priorities.

Extra-parliamentary forces

• Several former parliamentary parties failed to cross the threshold in the 2023 election:
  • Republic (Republika): A far-right nationalist party, founded by former members of ĽSNS.
  • Hungarian Alliance (Maďarská aliancia): A party representing the Hungarian minority, aiming for regional development and minority rights.
  • Democrats (Demokrati): A centrist, pro-European party formed from former members of center-right movements, advocating for reforms and moderation.
  • We Are Family (Sme rodina): A populist party focused on social benefits and family support.
  These parties currently operate outside parliament but remain active and influential in public discourse, although fragmented and lacking a unified platform.

The bigger picture

Slovak politics today are even more fragmented than a few years ago. The traditional left-right division is almost irrelevant. New liberal forces are gaining ground. Nationalism and populism remain strong players, even outside parliament.

The country is deeply polarized between two visions: one that looks westward toward the EU and liberal democracy, and another that leans inward, focusing on national sovereignty and conservative values.

This division has historical roots. Many of today's government supporters were in the past voters of Vladimír Mečiar's movement and the old Slovak Democratic Left (SDL), as well as the traditional Slovak National Party (SNS). On the other hand, many of today's opposition supporters used to vote for the reformist Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party (SDKÚ-DS), the party that led Slovakia into the European Union and NATO after defeating Mečiarism. This deeper historical background could be explored further, but it is beyond the scope of this article.

It’s a complicated landscape — but understanding these basic lines helps to make a little more sense of it.

Read also: How to understand Slovakia, Slovaks, and their politics? You won’t.

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.