Party comparison

PS vs Hlas: how alike are they?

We compare the documented positions of Progresívne Slovensko and HLAS – sociálna demokracia on the 42 questions in the test, issue by issue.

Liberalism, pro-Europeanism

48 %

overall agreement

Hlas

Social democracy, centre-left

In brief

How do PS and Hlas differ?

PS and Hlas take opposite sides on many statements in the test, above all on the rule of law, Ukraine, pensions and prices. PS fully supports re-establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor and fully opposes stricter state oversight of NGOs funded from abroad; Hlas takes the opposite view on both. PS fully supports resuming state military aid to Ukraine, which Hlas opposes. PS also supports limiting the 13th pension to people with low pensions and letting the retirement age keep rising with life expectancy; Hlas opposes both. Hlas fully supports capping supermarkets' margins on basic foods and supports a legal cap on energy prices for all households; PS opposes both. They agree that Slovakia should not leave NATO, that EU sanctions on Russia should stay and that foreign workers should find it easier to fill labour shortages.

This summary is based on the parties’ documented positions on the test statements; the source of each position is on the party’s page. Updated 17/10/2026.

Differences

Where they clash most

Rule of law and democracy

Slovakia should re-establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fight corruption.

PS Strongly in favour

Its 2026 anti-corruption package pledges to restore the Special Prosecutor's Office, which it says the coalition abolished out of fear for its own impunity.

Hlas Strongly against

In 2024 all 27 of its MPs voted for the Criminal Code reform that abolished the Special Prosecutor's Office; the government programme it backed accused that office of defying the Prosecutor General.

Rule of law and democracy

Non-governmental organisations funded from abroad should be subject to stricter state oversight.

PS Strongly against

In 2025 the PS caucus voted against the law tightening obligations on NGOs; the movement's European manifesto rejects the demonisation of NGOs.

Hlas Strongly in favour

In 2025 its caucus voted for the law tightening NGOs' obligations; the government programme it backed rejects foreign-funded groups influencing politics without transparency.

Rule of law and democracy

The management of the public broadcaster STVR should be chosen by an independent body, not by the government or the governing majority in parliament.

PS Strongly in favour

Its manifesto proposes that the public broadcaster's director be chosen by an expert body outside parliament to strengthen its independence.

Hlas Strongly against

In 2024 its caucus voted for the law replacing RTVS with STVR, with a board chosen by parliament and the culture ministry; in 2023 its programme promised to strengthen public media.

Cost of living and housing

The state should cap electricity and gas prices by law for all households, not only for those on lower incomes.

PS Strongly against

Its 2026 housing plan proposes replacing energy price subsidies for everyone with a housing allowance only for those who really need it.

Hlas In favour

Its economy minister, Denisa Saková, drew up the 2026 energy aid, which caps electricity and gas prices for about nine in ten households; the party presents it as its own achievement.

Cost of living and housing

The state should cap supermarkets' profit margins on basic foods.

PS Against

In 2023 it rejected state regulation of food prices, saying it leads to shortages and price rises and that the state should ensure strong competition.

Hlas Strongly in favour

Its 2023 programme promises to cap retail chains' trade margins and to treat them as a regulated sector, in order to make food cheaper.

Pensions and benefits

Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension.

PS In favour

In May 2026 deputy leader Simona Petrík said that if it governs, the 13th pension will become more targeted, which she sees as necessary given the economy.

Hlas Strongly against

In 2026 its leader said the party guarantees pensioners a full 13th pension and will not back down on this condition "under any circumstances".

Common ground

Where they agree

Economy and taxes

The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money.

Both: Against

Healthcare

There should be a single public health insurer instead of several competing ones.

Both: Against

European Union

If the EU does not change fundamentally, Slovakia should hold a referendum on whether to stay in it.

Both: Strongly against

Defence and NATO

Slovakia should leave NATO and become a militarily neutral country.

Both: Strongly against

Rule of law and democracy

A referendum should be valid even if fewer than half of eligible voters take part.

Both: Against

By issue

Agreement by issue

Economy and taxes 75 %

Cost of living and housing 33 %

Pensions and benefits 38 %

Healthcare 67 %

Ukraine and Russia 42 %

European Union 50 %

Defence and NATO 75 %

Rule of law and democracy 25 %

Values and society 38 %

Minorities 56 %

Energy and climate 38 %

Migration 75 %

Detail

Question by question

Economy and taxes 75 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Everyone should pay the same rate of income tax, whatever they earn.	Against	Strongly against
Banks, energy companies and large retail chains should pay a special tax.	In between	In favour
The deficit should be reduced by cutting state spending rather than by raising taxes.	In favour	Against
The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money.	Against	Against

Cost of living and housing 33 %

Question	PS	Hlas
The state should cap electricity and gas prices by law for all households, not only for those on lower incomes.	Strongly against	In favour
The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies.	Against	In favour
The state should cap supermarkets' profit margins on basic foods.	Against	Strongly in favour

Pensions and benefits 38 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension.	In favour	Strongly against
The retirement age should keep rising with life expectancy, with no fixed cap.	Strongly in favour	Against
Social and family benefits should be kept, even if taxes have to rise to pay for them.	Against	In favour
People who are able to work should lose social benefits if they turn down a job or training.	Against	In favour

Healthcare 67 %

Question	PS	Hlas
There should be a single public health insurer instead of several competing ones.	Against	Against
Patients should be able to pay extra for healthcare above the standard level.	In favour	Against
Slovakia should actively recruit doctors and nurses from abroad.	Strongly in favour	In between

Ukraine and Russia 42 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine.	Strongly in favour	Against
The EU should lift its sanctions on Russia.	Strongly against	Against
Slovakia should be able to keep buying Russian gas and oil after 2027.	Strongly against	In favour
Ukraine should be able to join the EU once it meets all the conditions.	Strongly in favour	In between
Russian assets frozen in the EU should be used to help Ukraine.	Strongly in favour	Against
Support for refugees from Ukraine should be cut back.	Strongly against	In between

European Union 50 %

Question	PS	Hlas
The EU should be able to decide foreign policy by majority vote, without any single country having a veto.	In favour	Strongly against
If the EU does not change fundamentally, Slovakia should hold a referendum on whether to stay in it.	Strongly against	Strongly against
The EU should be able to freeze EU funds for countries that do not respect the rule of law.	Strongly in favour	Against

Defence and NATO 75 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Slovakia should leave NATO and become a militarily neutral country.	Strongly against	Strongly against
Slovakia should increase defence spending to meet NATO's new target.	In favour	Against
Slovakia should withdraw from its defence cooperation agreement with the United States.	Against	In between

Rule of law and democracy 25 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Slovakia should re-establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fight corruption.	Strongly in favour	Strongly against
Non-governmental organisations funded from abroad should be subject to stricter state oversight.	Strongly against	Strongly in favour
The Prosecutor General should keep the power to annul final decisions by the police and prosecutors (the so-called Section 363).	Strongly against	In favour
The management of the public broadcaster STVR should be chosen by an independent body, not by the government or the governing majority in parliament.	Strongly in favour	Strongly against
A referendum should be valid even if fewer than half of eligible voters take part.	Against	Against

Values and society 38 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Same-sex couples should be able to register their partnership legally.	Strongly in favour	Against
Abortion should be more restricted than it is now.	Strongly against	Against
Ethical issues such as marriage or adoption should be decided only by each country, not by the EU.	Against	Strongly in favour
Possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal use should remain a criminal offence.	Strongly against	In favour

Minorities 56 %

Question	PS	Hlas
In municipalities with a large Hungarian population, Hungarian should be an official language alongside Slovak.	In favour	Against
The 2025 law that makes it a crime to question the Beneš decrees should be repealed.	In favour	Strongly against
People who acquire another country's citizenship should be able to keep their Slovak citizenship.	In favour	In between
The state should invest more in integrating marginalised Roma communities, for example in pre-school education and housing.	Strongly in favour	In favour

Energy and climate 38 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Slovakia should stick to the EU goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.	Strongly in favour	In between
Sales of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned from 2035.	In favour	Strongly against

Migration 75 %

Question	PS	Hlas
Slovakia should make it easier for foreign workers to come and work in sectors with labour shortages.	Strongly in favour	In favour

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