Party comparison
Smer vs Republika: how alike are they?
We compare the documented positions of SMER – sociálna demokracia and Republika on the 42 questions in the test, issue by issue.
In brief
How do Smer and Republika differ?
Smer and Republika part ways mainly on the EU, Ukraine's membership, foreign workers and the budget. Republika fully supports a referendum on whether to stay in the EU if it does not change fundamentally, and Smer fully opposes it. Smer supports letting Ukraine join the EU once it meets all the conditions and making it easier for foreign workers to fill labour shortages; Republika fully opposes both. Republika supports reducing the deficit by cutting state spending rather than raising taxes, and tighter abortion rules, which Smer rejects. They agree on much of the rest: both fully oppose re-establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor and resuming state military aid to Ukraine, and both support lifting EU sanctions on Russia, buying Russian gas and oil after 2027 and stricter state oversight of NGOs funded from abroad.
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
European Union
If the EU does not change fundamentally, Slovakia should hold a referendum on whether to stay in it.
Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine should be able to join the EU once it meets all the conditions.
Migration
Slovakia should make it easier for foreign workers to come and work in sectors with labour shortages.
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
Cost of living and housing
The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies.
Both: Strongly in favour
Pensions and benefits
People who are able to work should lose social benefits if they turn down a job or training.
Both: In favour
Ukraine and Russia
Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine.
Both: Strongly against
Ukraine and Russia
Slovakia should be able to keep buying Russian gas and oil after 2027.
Both: Strongly in favour
By issue
Agreement by issue
Detail
Question by question
Economy and taxes 81 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In favour |
| The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money. | Against | In between |
Cost of living and housing 83 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| The state should cap electricity and gas prices by law for all households, not only for those on lower incomes. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| The state should cap supermarkets' profit margins on basic foods. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
Pensions and benefits 81 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension. | Strongly against | Against |
| The retirement age should keep rising with life expectancy, with no fixed cap. | Against | Strongly against |
| Social and family benefits should be kept, even if taxes have to rise to pay for them. | In favour | In between |
| People who are able to work should lose social benefits if they turn down a job or training. | In favour | In favour |
Healthcare 58 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| There should be a single public health insurer instead of several competing ones. | In between | Strongly in favour |
| Patients should be able to pay extra for healthcare above the standard level. | Against | In favour |
| Slovakia should actively recruit doctors and nurses from abroad. | In between | Against |
Ukraine and Russia 79 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| The EU should lift its sanctions on Russia. | In favour | Strongly in favour |
| Slovakia should be able to keep buying Russian gas and oil after 2027. | Strongly in favour | Strongly in favour |
| Ukraine should be able to join the EU once it meets all the conditions. | In favour | Strongly against |
| 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 favour |
European Union 67 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| 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 in favour |
| The EU should be able to freeze EU funds for countries that do not respect the rule of law. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
Defence and NATO 67 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should leave NATO and become a militarily neutral country. | In between | In favour |
| Slovakia should increase defence spending to meet NATO's new target. | Against | Strongly against |
| Slovakia should withdraw from its defence cooperation agreement with the United States. | In between | Strongly in favour |
Rule of law and democracy 80 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Against |
| A referendum should be valid even if fewer than half of eligible voters take part. | In between | Strongly in favour |
Values and society 75 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Same-sex couples should be able to register their partnership legally. | Strongly against | Strongly against |
| Abortion should be more restricted than it is now. | Against | In favour |
| Ethical issues such as marriage or adoption should be decided only by each country, not by the EU. | Strongly in favour | In favour |
| Possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal use should remain a criminal offence. | In between | In favour |
Minorities 81 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | In between |
| People who acquire another country's citizenship should be able to keep their Slovak citizenship. | Against | Against |
| The state should invest more in integrating marginalised Roma communities, for example in pre-school education and housing. | In between | Against |
Energy and climate 75 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should stick to the EU goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. | Against | Strongly against |
| Sales of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned from 2035. | Against | Strongly against |
Migration 25 %
| Question | Smer | Republika |
|---|---|---|
| Slovakia should make it easier for foreign workers to come and work in sectors with labour shortages. | In favour | Strongly against |
What about you? Which of the two do you agree with more?
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