SaS · Classical liberalism, centre-right · Nationwide · Official website

What does Sloboda a Solidarita propose?

Sloboda a Solidarita (SaS, Freedom and Solidarity) was founded in 2009 by the economist Richard Sulík. It belongs to the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) and was in government in 2010–2012 and 2020–2022. Since March 2024 it has been led by Branislav Gröhling, a former education minister; Sulík left the party in April 2026. In 2023 it won 6.3% and 11 seats, and its group still has 11 MPs.

SaS is in opposition; polls in September and October 2026 put it at 7.5–8.4%, and it plans to run alone. In October 2026 it was the first party to present a full programme for 2027, "Reštart Slovenska". It proposes scrapping the financial transactions tax, a flat 19% rate for VAT, income tax and corporate tax, a 13th pension only below the median pension, and writing EU and NATO membership into the Constitution. It supports Ukraine and civil partnerships for same-sex couples. It has ruled out working with Smer, Hlas, the SNS or Republika after the election.

SaS has a documented position on 42 of the 42 test questions, across 12 topics: 19 in favour, 2 in between and 21 against. Take the test to find out how well you match SaS.

Profile reviewed on 16/10/2026.

SaS in figures

19
in favour: 2
in between: 21
against: 30
without nuance

Comparing question by question, the party whose positions are closest to those of SaS is Demokrati (83% agreement on 42 shared questions), and the furthest is Republika (29%).

Of the 42 positions, 42 link to the document they come from and 0 are marked as estimated because we have not found an explicit document. See the methodology.

💰 SaS on Economy and taxes

4 questions: 3 in favour, 0 in between and 1 against.

Everyone should pay the same rate of income tax, whatever they earn.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme proposes bringing back a flat income tax of at most 19%, the same rate for employees, the self-employed and companies.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 1, opatrenie 29, 05/10/2026.

Banks, energy companies and large retail chains should pay a special tax.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants to cut sector-specific taxes and, as public finances allow, scrap the insurance tax and other sector levies, such as those on regulated industries.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 1, opatrenie 22, 05/10/2026.

The deficit should be reduced by cutting state spending rather than by raising taxes.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would reduce debt by lowering public spending as a share of GDP, not by raising taxes, and will back nothing that increases the overall tax burden.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 1, opatrenia 1 a 2, 05/10/2026.

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

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme proposes a single 19% VAT rate with few exemptions, accepting an initial revenue loss that it expects stronger growth to offset.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 1, opatrenie 16, 05/10/2026.

🛒 SaS on Cost of living and housing

3 questions: 0 in favour, 0 in between and 3 against.

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

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would replace the untargeted energy aid with an expanded housing allowance only for low-income households.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 2, priorita 2 a opatrenie 29, 05/10/2026.

The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies.

Strongly against

Reasoning: In the 2023 KohoVolit calculator it said no to returning strategic monopolies (power, gas, water) to the state; its programme says the state should not run the economy.

Source: Volebná kalkulačka KohoVolit 2023, odpoveď strany.

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

Against

Reasoning: In 2023 it rejected state regulation of food prices and in 2024 called price caps one of the worse measures; its programme relies on policing unfair trading practices.

Source: Volebný kompas 2023 (UMB a EUI), autoumiestnenie strany, výrok 7.

👵 SaS on Pensions and benefits

4 questions: 2 in favour, 1 in between and 1 against.

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

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme proposes paying the 13th pension only to pensioners below the median pension, topping them up to the median.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 2, opatrenie 11, 05/10/2026.

The retirement age should keep rising with life expectancy, with no fixed cap.

In favour

Reasoning: In 2023 it backed linking the retirement age to life expectancy and in 2024 raising it; its 2027 programme calls for a fiscally balanced pension system.

Source: Volebný kompas 2023 (UMB a EUI), autoumiestnenie strany, výrok 3.

Social and family benefits should be kept, even if taxes have to rise to pay for them.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme will back no measure that raises the tax burden and wants to replace universal benefits with help targeted at those who need it.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 1, opatrenie 2; kap. 2, priorita 2, 05/10/2026.

People who are able to work should lose social benefits if they turn down a job or training.

In between

Reasoning: In 2025 the SaS caucus abstained on the law cutting material-need benefit for people who turn down a suitable job, although the party wants work to pay more than benefits.

Source: Hlasovanie NR SR, tlač 727 (pomoc v hmotnej núdzi, „Práca namiesto dávok“), 29. 5. 2025.

🏥 SaS on Healthcare

3 questions: 2 in favour, 0 in between and 1 against.

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

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants real competition between health insurers, with different insurance plans, and sees it as a problem if only two remain.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 12, opatrenie 25, 05/10/2026.

Patients should be able to pay extra for healthcare above the standard level.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants insurers to offer voluntary plans including above-standard services, while keeping a basic plan with no extra charge for everyone.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 12, opatrenie 25, 05/10/2026.

Slovakia should actively recruit doctors and nurses from abroad.

In favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would simplify recognition of foreign health qualifications and support the return of emigrated health workers; in 2023 it backed recruiting doctors and nurses from abroad.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 12, opatrenie 36, 05/10/2026.

🕊️ SaS on Ukraine and Russia

6 questions: 3 in favour, 0 in between and 3 against.

Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme promises to resume support for Ukraine in every form it needs, including military aid, and to join the Coalition of the Willing.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 9, opatrenie 3, 05/10/2026.

The EU should lift its sanctions on Russia.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants strict enforcement of international sanctions and firm rules on contacts with sanctioned states; in 2024 it said the sanctions should stay.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 9, opatrenia 12 a 14, 05/10/2026.

Slovakia should be able to keep buying Russian gas and oil after 2027.

Against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme treats gas diversification as part of a strategic reduction of dependence on Russian energy, though it sets no date for ending it.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 4, opatrenie 25, 05/10/2026.

Ukraine should be able to join the EU once it meets all the conditions.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme supports Ukraine joining the EU once it meets the criteria, and in 2026 the SaS caucus voted for a resolution backing it.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 9, opatrenie 9, 05/10/2026.

Russian assets frozen in the EU should be used to help Ukraine.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2024 European election programme pledges to support using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, as just punishment of Russia for its aggression.

Source: Volebný program do Európskeho parlamentu 2024 „EÚ áno“, s. 43, bod 22.

Support for refugees from Ukraine should be cut back.

Strongly against

Reasoning: In 2023 it fully opposed further limiting aid to refugees from Ukraine and called for offering them real shelter for the duration of the war.

Source: Volebný kompas 2023 (UMB a EUI), autoumiestnenie strany, výrok 34.

🇪🇺 SaS on European Union

3 questions: 0 in favour, 0 in between and 3 against.

The EU should be able to decide foreign policy by majority vote, without any single country having a veto.

Against

Reasoning: Its 2024 European election programme defends keeping the veto on key national interests, while being open to giving it up where that suits Slovakia better.

Source: Volebný program do Európskeho parlamentu 2024 „EÚ áno“, s. 35-36.

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

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would enshrine EU and NATO membership in the constitution and require both a referendum and a constitutional change to consider leaving.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, opatrenie 1, 05/10/2026.

The EU should be able to freeze EU funds for countries that do not respect the rule of law.

Against

Reasoning: Its 2024 European election programme opposes the mechanism for withholding EU funds and would protect the rule of law mainly through the EPPO, OLAF and the EU Court of Justice.

Source: Volebný program do Európskeho parlamentu 2024 „EÚ áno“, s. 61.

🛡️ SaS on Defence and NATO

3 questions: 1 in favour, 0 in between and 2 against.

Slovakia should leave NATO and become a militarily neutral country.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants Slovakia firmly anchored in Europe and the Atlantic alliance, NATO targets met, and NATO membership enshrined in the constitution.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 8 a 9, 05/10/2026.

Slovakia should increase defence spending to meet NATO's new target.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme promises a plan to raise defence spending gradually to meet NATO commitments by 2035, starting from a minimum of 2% of GDP.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 8, priorita 1 a opatrenie 5, 05/10/2026.

Slovakia should withdraw from its defence cooperation agreement with the United States.

Strongly against

Reasoning: In 2022 the SaS caucus voted for the defence cooperation agreement with the US; its 2027 programme stresses the lasting importance of the US for Slovakia's security.

Source: Hlasovanie NR SR, tlač 879 (Dohoda o spolupráci v oblasti obrany s USA), 9. 2. 2022.

⚖️ SaS on Rule of law and democracy

5 questions: 2 in favour, 0 in between and 3 against.

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

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme promises to restore the Special Prosecutor's Office, together with the specialised police unit, and enshrine its independence from the Prosecutor General.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, priorita 1 a opatrenia 3 a 5, 05/10/2026.

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

Strongly against

Reasoning: In 2025 the SaS caucus voted against the law tightening obligations on NGOs; its programme wants people to keep being able to assign them part of their taxes.

Source: Hlasovanie NR SR, tlač 245 (zákon o mimovládnych neziskových organizáciách), 16. 4. 2025.

The Prosecutor General should keep the power to annul final decisions by the police and prosecutors (the so-called Section 363).

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would end the use of Section 363 to halt cases, so that the Prosecutor General can no longer interfere negatively in investigations.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, opatrenie 6, 05/10/2026.

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

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would change how STVR's director general and supervisory bodies are chosen so the governing coalition cannot decide alone, giving independent experts a strong say.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 15, opatrenie 4, 05/10/2026.

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

Against

Reasoning: In the 2023 KohoVolit calculator it said no to lowering the turnout threshold needed for a national referendum to be valid.

Source: Volebná kalkulačka KohoVolit 2023, odpoveď strany.

🤝 SaS on Values and society

4 questions: 1 in favour, 0 in between and 3 against.

Same-sex couples should be able to register their partnership legally.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme proposes a legal civil partnership (životné partnerstvo) also for same-sex couples, with legal protection for the children raised in such families.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, opatrenie 32, 05/10/2026.

Abortion should be more restricted than it is now.

Strongly against

Reasoning: In 2024 it fully opposed further restricting abortion; in 2023 it proposed that young people from 16 could have an abortion without parental consent.

Source: EU&I (euandi) 2024, autoumiestnenie strany, výrok 9.

Ethical issues such as marriage or adoption should be decided only by each country, not by the EU.

Strongly against

Reasoning: In 2025 the SaS caucus voted against the constitutional amendment reserving ethical and cultural matters to the state; its programme wants the primacy of EU law written into the constitution.

Source: Hlasovanie NR SR, tlač 733 (novela Ústavy SR), 26. 9. 2025.

Possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal use should remain a criminal offence.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme wants no penalty for the smallest amount of cannabis and only an administrative offence for a small amount for personal use.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, opatrenie 13, 05/10/2026.

🗣️ SaS on Minorities

4 questions: 3 in favour, 1 in between and 0 against.

In municipalities with a large Hungarian population, Hungarian should be an official language alongside Slovak.

In between

Reasoning: Its programme promises a minorities law covering the use of their languages and language rights for municipalities based on actual use, but says nothing of co-official status.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 6, ďalšie opatrenia (zákon o postavení národnostných menšín), 05/10/2026.

The 2025 law that makes it a crime to question the Beneš decrees should be repealed.

In favour

Reasoning: In December 2025 the SaS caucus voted against the Criminal Code change that punishes questioning the post-war order, including the Beneš decrees.

Source: Hlasovanie NR SR, tlač 1115, 11. 12. 2025.

People who acquire another country's citizenship should be able to keep their Slovak citizenship.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2023 minorities programme proposes giving everyone back the right to keep dual citizenship, with bans only for specific cases such as members of the armed forces.

Source: Program pre národnostné menšiny (2023), s. 10 PDF.

The state should invest more in integrating marginalised Roma communities, for example in pre-school education and housing.

In favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would scale up proven solutions for marginalised Roma communities: settling land titles, housing microloans and continuity of social work.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 2, priorita 3 a opatrenia 32 – 39, 05/10/2026.

🌱 SaS on Energy and climate

2 questions: 1 in favour, 0 in between and 1 against.

Slovakia should stick to the EU goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.

In favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme backs fighting climate change and the 2050 climate goals, including a framework climate law, but with technology neutrality and least-cost solutions.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 11, opatrenia 2 a 6, 05/10/2026.

Sales of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned from 2035.

Strongly against

Reasoning: Its 2024 European election programme recalls that SaS opposed the 2035 ban on combustion engines because it cuts emissions at an extremely high cost compared with other options.

Source: Volebný program do Európskeho parlamentu 2024 „EÚ áno“, s. 11.

🌍 SaS on Migration

1 question: 1 in favour, 0 in between and 0 against.

Slovakia should make it easier for foreign workers to come and work in sectors with labour shortages.

Strongly in favour

Reasoning: Its 2027 programme would simplify hiring workers from outside the EU where labour is short and introduce a points system for work permits.

Source: Reštart Slovenska (program 2027), kap. 3, opatrenia 29 a 30, 05/10/2026.

Frequently asked questions about SaS

Is SaS a left-wing or right-wing party?

On our political compass, calculated from the party’s positions on the test statements, SaS is on the right on the economy (+82) and on the liberal side on values (−75), on a scale from −100 to +100.

What does SaS support most strongly?

SaS fully agrees with these statements:

Everyone should pay the same rate of income tax, whatever they earn.
The deficit should be reduced by cutting state spending rather than by raising taxes.
The standard VAT rate should be cut from 23%, even if the state collects less money.
Only people with low pensions should receive the 13th pension.
Patients should be able to pay extra for healthcare above the standard level.
Slovakia should resume sending state military aid to Ukraine.

What does SaS oppose most strongly?

SaS fully disagrees with these statements:

Banks, energy companies and large retail chains should pay a special tax.
The state should cap electricity and gas prices by law for all households, not only for those on lower incomes.
The state should hold a majority stake in large energy companies.
Social and family benefits should be kept, even if taxes have to rise to pay for them.
There should be a single public health insurer instead of several competing ones.
The EU should lift its sanctions on Russia.

Which parties are closest to SaS?

On the test statements, SaS is closest to Demokrati (83% agreement) and furthest from Republika (29%).

Where do these positions come from?

Of the 42 positions, 42 are based on a document (manifesto, National Council vote or public statement) linked next to each statement; 0 are estimates. Last reviewed 16/10/2026.

How well do you match SaS?

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