Slovakia's political parties explained: who's who in 2027

Slovakia's election to the National Council must be held by September 2027 at the latest; the exact day has not yet been set. The Speaker of the National Council calls it no later than 110 days before polling day. An early election would require a resolution of the National Council backed by at least 90 MPs (Article 73(3) of the Constitution); as of 15 October 2026 nobody had proposed one. Voters elect 150 MPs for four years in a single constituency covering the whole country. A party needs at least 5% of valid votes, a coalition of two or three parties 7%, and a coalition of four or more 10%.

The test covers twelve parties: eight that are above or close to the 5% threshold in the polls, and four more that have MPs in the National Council or appear regularly in the polls: the SNS, the Hungarian Alliance, Sme rodina and Právo na pravdu.

Since October 2023 the government has been formed by Smer, Hlas and the SNS, led by Prime Minister Robert Fico. The other nine parties are in opposition; five of them (Republika, the Hungarian Alliance, Demokrati, Sme rodina and Právo na pravdu) have no MPs in the National Council. None of the four polls from September and October 2026 gives the three governing parties a combined majority of 76 seats: the pollsters' seat projections give them 40 to 49.

The twelve parties at a glance

The 2023 results are official figures from the Statistical Office. The poll column shows the lowest and highest result in the latest poll from each of four pollsters: NMS (1–5 Oct), Ipsos for Denník N (18–22 Sep), AKO for JOJ 24 (10–21 Sep) and Focus (1–7 Sep 2026). The first three publish a voting model, Focus the percentages of decided voters; in the AKO and Focus polls about 15% of respondents answered "don't know". On the compass, −100 means left or progressive and +100 means right or conservative; each position is our calculation from the parties' positions on the test statements, the same as on the political compass page. The match percentage under each party shows how similarly two parties answer the test's 42 statements. Of the 504 positions, 65 are estimated because the party has not addressed the issue directly; Právo na pravdu (14), Sme rodina (13) and the Hungarian Alliance (11) have the most. All figures are as of 17 October 2026.

Smer – sociálna demokracia

Smer was founded in 1999 as a breakaway from the Party of the Democratic Left, and Robert Fico has led it ever since. It governed in 2006–2010 and 2012–2020, won the 2023 election and now has 41 MPs. Since October 2023 it has led the government with Hlas and the SNS. The Party of European Socialists expelled it in October 2025.

What it proposes: a full 13th pension for all pensioners, which it made a condition for joining the government (2023 manifesto); progressive taxation, with new 30% and 35% income tax rates added in 2025 (National Council vote); no military aid to Ukraine (2023 manifesto); keeping the national veto in the EU as a "red line" (2024 manifesto).

In the test: its positions match Hlas the most (89%) and SaS the least (39%). Party page: Smer

Progresívne Slovensko (Progressive Slovakia)

Progresívne Slovensko (PS) is a liberal movement founded in 2017, a member of the ALDE Party and of the Renew Europe group. Michal Šimečka has led it since 2022. It has 33 MPs and won the 2024 European elections in Slovakia with 27.8%. It is the largest opposition party and has ruled out working with Smer, Hlas, the SNS or Republika after the election.

What it proposes: restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office (anti-corruption package, 2026); shifting the tax burden from work to property and environmental taxes (TRESK plan); civil partnerships for all couples (manifesto); Ukraine's membership of the EU (National Council vote, 2026).

In the test: its positions match Demokrati the most (82%) and Republika the least (30%). Party page: PS

Hlas – sociálna demokracia

Hlas was founded in 2020 by Peter Pellegrini and other MPs who left Smer. After several departures it has 24 MPs. Pellegrini was elected President in 2024, and since June 2024 the party has been led by the interior minister, Matúš Šutaj Eštok. Hlas is in government, and its deputy leader Richard Raši is Speaker of the National Council.

What it proposes: a full 13th pension, on which its leader says the party will not back down "under any circumstances" (strana-hlas.sk, 2026); a cap on retail chains' margins and 5% VAT on basic foods (2023 manifesto); EU foreign policy decided only by unanimity (2023 manifesto); a ban on social media for children under 16 (strana-hlas.sk, 2026).

In the test: its positions match Smer the most (89%) and SaS the least (46%). Party page: Hlas

Hnutie Slovensko (Slovakia Movement)

Hnutie Slovensko was founded in 2011 by Igor Matovič, who still leads it; until 2023 it was called OĽaNO. It won the 2020 election on an anti-corruption platform and led the government until 2023. In 2023 it ran together with Kresťanská únia and Za ľudí; the group it shares with Za ľudí now has 12 MPs. It is in opposition and has ruled out governing with Smer, Hlas, the SNS or Republika.

What it proposes: restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office and the NAKA police agency and abolishing politicians' lifetime annuities, as conditions for joining a government (obycajniludia.sk, 2026); a law on proving the origin of wealth, with an extra tax of up to 100% (2023 manifesto); a cap on energy prices for households and firms alike (2023 manifesto); no support for adoption by same-sex couples (2023 manifesto).

In the test: its positions match KDH the most (81%) and Republika the least (54%). Party page: Hnutie Slovensko

KDH (Christian Democratic Movement)

KDH was founded in 1990, has taken part in several centre-right governments and belongs to the European People's Party. Milan Majerský has led it since 2020. In 2023 it returned to parliament after seven years and has 12 MPs. It is in opposition, plans to run alone and has ruled out governing with Smer, Hlas or the SNS.

What it proposes: a single income tax rate for everyone, with deductible allowances (2023 manifesto); a retirement age linked to life expectancy (2023 manifesto); marriage as the union of a man and a woman and no adoption by same-sex couples (2023 manifesto); keeping the national veto in the EU (2024 manifesto). In 2025 its MPs supplied the decisive votes for the constitutional amendment on sovereignty in cultural and ethical matters (National Council vote).

In the test: its positions match Hnutie Slovensko and Demokrati the most (81% each) and Republika the least (51%). Party page: KDH

SaS (Freedom and Solidarity)

SaS was founded in 2009 by the economist Richard Sulík; it belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and was in government in 2010–2012 and 2020–2022. Since March 2024 it has been led by Branislav Gröhling; Sulík left the party in April 2026. It has 11 MPs, is in opposition and in October 2026 was the first party to present a full programme for 2027, "Reštart Slovenska".

What it proposes: a single 19% rate of income tax (2027 programme) and of VAT (2027 programme); a 13th pension only for pensioners below the median pension (2027 programme); restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office (2027 programme); writing EU and NATO membership into the Constitution (2027 programme); civil partnerships also for same-sex couples (2027 programme).

In the test: its positions match Demokrati the most (83%) and Republika the least (29%). Party page: SaS

SNS (Slovak National Party)

The SNS is a nationalist party registered in 1990. Andrej Danko has led it since 2012. After several departures its group has 8 MPs. It has been in government since 2023, although in September 2026 most of its MPs voted with the opposition to withdraw confidence from Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba, its own nominee.

What it proposes: special levies on banks and energy companies, on which it makes its support for the budget conditional (sns.sk, 2026); strategic companies under state control, lifting sanctions and restoring supplies of Russian oil, gas and nuclear fuel, and ending arms deliveries to conflict zones (2023 manifesto); a stricter language law under which Slovak always comes first (noviny.sk, 2024).

In the test: its positions match Smer the most (86%) and SaS the least (34%). Party page: SNS

Republika

Republika was founded in 2021 by Milan Uhrík and other MPs who had left the ĽSNS; Uhrík has led it ever since. In 2023 it narrowly missed entering parliament, but in the 2024 European elections it came third with 12.5% and two MEPs. It has no MPs in the National Council and has never been in government; it is third in the polls.

What it proposes: turning the EU back into an economic community, with a referendum on leaving if that fails (manifesto); ending the defence agreement with the US as a first step towards neutrality (views and positions); lifting sanctions on Russia immediately (hnutie-republika.sk, 2025); power, gas and water companies in state hands (hnutie-republika.sk, 2025).

In the test: its positions match the SNS the most (85%) and SaS the least (29%). Party page: Republika

Hungarian Alliance (Magyar Szövetség – Maďarská aliancia)

The Hungarian Alliance is the party of Slovakia's Hungarian minority, and also seeks to represent other minorities and the south and east of the country. It was formed in 2021 by the merger of the Party of the Hungarian Community, Most–Híd and the Összefogás movement, and belongs to the European People's Party. László Gubík has led it since 2024. It rules out working with Smer at national level; in May 2026 it agreed to cooperate on policy with PS, but plans to run alone.

What it proposes: Hungarian as an official language, with bilingual administration in areas where Hungarians live (13 points, szovetseg.sk); removing the so-called "lex Beneš" from the Criminal Code (madarska-aliancia.sk, 2026); no loss of Slovak citizenship for those who acquire another, and more money for schools teaching in minority languages (2023 manifesto); EU membership, to which it sees no alternative (2024 manifesto). Minority issues are covered in detail in "The Hungarian minority and the parties".

In the test: its positions match Hnutie Slovensko the most (79%) and Republika the least (60%). Party page: Hungarian Alliance

Demokrati (Democrats)

Demokrati is a centre and centre-right party and a member of the European People's Party. It was founded in 2018 as Spolu, took its current name in 2023 under then Prime Minister Eduard Heger, and since December 2023 has been led by former defence minister Jaroslav Naď. It has no MPs of its own. It has offered the rest of the opposition a pre-election coalition.

What it proposes: a 17% flat tax (smedemokrati.sk, 2026); restoring the Special Prosecutor's Office and the NAKA, and scrapping Section 363 and fees for doctor's appointments (Hlboká orba); writing EU and NATO membership into the Constitution (smedemokrati.sk); support for Ukraine, including military aid (2023 manifesto).

In the test: its positions match SaS the most (83%) and Republika the least (37%). Party page: Demokrati

Sme rodina (We Are Family)

Sme rodina is a movement founded in 2015 by businessman Boris Kollár, who still leads it. It entered the National Council in 2016 and was in government from 2020 to 2023, with Kollár as Speaker. It lost its seats in 2023. In September 2026 it agreed to run on a joint list with Richard Sulík's team and announced it would rename itself "Sme rodina a Sulíkovci".

What it proposes: state rental housing, which it pushed while in government (hnutie-smerodina.sk); the family as a man, a woman and children (2020 manifesto); staying in NATO (2023 voting calculator). Its programme focuses on pensions, support for births, help for single mothers and food prices.

In the test: its positions match Hnutie Slovensko the most (79%) and PS the least (61%). Party page: Sme rodina

Právo na pravdu (Right to Truth)

Právo na pravdu (PRAVDA) is a new party registered in November 2025 and led since January 2026 by lawyer and businessman Zoroslav Kollár. It has not yet run in an election. Its slogan is "Slovakia first".

What it proposes: a veto for every EU member state (programme); lifting sanctions on Russia and the ban on importing Russian oil and gas (programme); decisive state control of strategic energy companies (programme); a single state health insurer (press release, 2026); gradually abolishing the self-governing regions (programme).

In the test: its positions match the SNS the most (82%) and PS the least (40%). Party page: Právo na pravdu

The main dividing lines

The political compass places the parties on two axes (the exact values are in the table above). The economic axis (left–right) is based on 14 statements on the economy and taxes, the cost of living and housing, pensions and benefits, and healthcare. The social axis (progressive–conservative) is based on 12 statements on the rule of law and democracy, values and society, energy and climate, and migration. The statements on Ukraine and Russia, the EU, defence and minorities do not count towards the compass.

On the economy Smer is furthest to the left (−53.6) and SaS furthest to the right (+82.1); on values Republika is the most conservative (+79.2) and PS the most progressive (−87.5). The three governing parties, Republika and Právo na pravdu sit in the same quarter of the map: left-wing on the economy and conservative on values. PS, SaS and Demokrati are right-wing and progressive. KDH is right-wing on the economy and exactly in the middle of the values axis (0.0): the axis also measures views on the Special Prosecutor's Office, NGOs and the public broadcaster STVR, and KDH is conservative on marriage and abortion but sides with the rest of the opposition on the rule of law. Hnutie Slovensko, the Hungarian Alliance and Sme rodina are close to the centre on both axes.

The same lines show up in the parties' proposals:

• Taxes: KDH, SaS and Demokrati propose a flat income tax; Smer, Hlas and the SNS passed the new 30% and 35% rates in 2025, and Republika wants a lower rate for the lowest earners.
• Rule of law: PS, Hnutie Slovensko, SaS and Demokrati promise to restore the Special Prosecutor's Office; KDH and the Hungarian Alliance criticise its abolition but have not pledged to restore it; Smer, Hlas and the SNS abolished it in 2024.
• Ukraine and Russia: five parties (PS, Hnutie Slovensko, SaS, Demokrati and Sme rodina) support resuming state military aid to Ukraine, six are against and KDH is neutral. Smer, the SNS, Republika and Právo na pravdu support lifting sanctions on Russia.
• Same-sex partnerships: PS and SaS support legal recognition; Smer, Hnutie Slovensko, KDH, the SNS, Republika and Sme rodina are strongly against, and Hlas, the Hungarian Alliance, Demokrati and Právo na pravdu (estimated) are against.

Where the parties agree and where they are completely apart is shown in "Where Slovakia's parties agree".

How to compare the parties

Every position of each party on the test statements, with its source, is on the party pages, and all twelve parties side by side are in the party comparison. The election timetable, ways to vote and how seats are allocated are in the 2027 parliamentary election guide.

To find out which party is closest to your views, take the test. It compares your answers with the same positions used to calculate the matches and the compass in this article.