Party comparison
Smer vs Hlas: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of SMER – sociálna demokracia and HLAS – sociálna demokracia on the 42 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Smer and Hlas differ?
Smer and Hlas, partners in government, take the same side on most statements in the test. Both oppose re-establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor and letting an independent body choose the management of the public broadcaster STVR, and both support stricter state oversight of NGOs funded from abroad. Both also support a special tax on banks, energy companies and big retailers, a legal cap on electricity and gas prices for all households and keeping ethical issues such as marriage a national matter. They differ on Russia and NATO: Smer supports lifting EU sanctions on Russia and Hlas opposes it, while Hlas firmly rejects leaving NATO and Smer takes a neutral position. Smer also supports Ukraine joining the EU once it meets the conditions and opposes the EU goal of climate neutrality by 2050; Hlas is neutral on both.
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.
Common ground
Where they agree
Economy and taxes
Everyone should pay the same rate of income tax, whatever they earn.
Both: Strongly against
Economy and taxes
Banks, energy companies and large retail chains should pay a special tax.
Both: In favour
Economy and taxes
The deficit should be reduced by cutting state spending rather than by raising taxes.
Both: Against
Economy and taxes
The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money.
Both: Against
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.
Both: In favour
Pensions and benefits
Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension.
Both: Strongly against
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 100 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Everyone should pay the same rate of income tax, whatever they earn. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Banks, energy companies and large retail chains should pay a special tax. | In favour | In favour |
| The deficit should be reduced by cutting state spending rather than by raising taxes. | Against | Against |
| The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money. | Against | Against |
Cost of living and housing 83 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| The state should cap electricity and gas prices by law for all households, not only for those on lower incomes. | In favour | In favour |
| The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| The state should cap supermarkets' profit margins on basic foods. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
Pensions and benefits 100 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The retirement age should keep rising with life expectancy, with no fixed cap. | Against | Against |
| Social and family benefits should be kept, even if taxes have to rise to pay for them. | In favour | In favour |
| People who are able to work should lose social benefits if they turn down a job or training. | In favour | In favour |
Healthcare 92 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a single public health insurer instead of several competing ones. | In between | Against |
| Patients should be able to pay extra for healthcare above the standard level. | Against | Against |
| Slovakia should actively recruit doctors and nurses from abroad. | In between | In between |
Ukraine and Russia 79 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine. | Strongly against | Against |
| The EU should lift its sanctions on Russia. | In favour | Against |
| Slovakia should be able to keep buying Russian gas and oil after 2027. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Ukraine should be able to join the EU once it meets all the conditions. | In favour | In between |
| Russian assets frozen in the EU should be used to help Ukraine. | Against | Against |
| Support for refugees from Ukraine should be cut back. | In between | In between |
European Union 92 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| The EU should be able to decide foreign policy by majority vote, without any single country having a veto. | Strongly against | 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 against | Against |
Defence and NATO 83 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should leave NATO and become a militarily neutral country. | In between | Strongly against |
| Slovakia should increase defence spending to meet NATO's new target. | Against | Against |
| Slovakia should withdraw from its defence cooperation agreement with the United States. | In between | In between |
Rule of law and democracy 90 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should re-establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor to fight corruption. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Non-governmental organisations funded from abroad should be subject to stricter state oversight. | Strongly in favour | 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 in favour | 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 against | Strongly against |
| A referendum should be valid even if fewer than half of eligible voters take part. | In between | Against |
Values and society 88 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Same-sex couples should be able to register their partnership legally. | Strongly against | Against |
| Abortion should be more restricted than it is now. | Against | Against |
| Ethical issues such as marriage or adoption should be decided only by each country, not by the EU. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal use should remain a criminal offence. | In between | In favour |
Minorities 88 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| In municipalities with a large Hungarian population, Hungarian should be an official language alongside Slovak. | Against | Against |
| The 2025 law that makes it a crime to question the Beneš decrees should be repealed. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| People who acquire another country's citizenship should be able to keep their Slovak citizenship. | Against | In between |
| The state should invest more in integrating marginalised Roma communities, for example in pre-school education and housing. | In between | In favour |
Energy and climate 75 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should stick to the EU goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. | Against | In between |
| Sales of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned from 2035. | Against | Strongly against |
Migration 100 %
| Question | Smer | Hlas |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should make it easier for foreign workers to come and work in sectors with labour shortages. | In favour | In favour |
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