Slovakia
The story
1990–1998 · Mečiar's founding-era rule
Vladimír Mečiar, prime minister from 1990, formed the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) and led the country to independence in 1993. Though it presented itself as pragmatic and centrist, HZDS was in practice both populist and authoritarian, concentrating power in Mečiar's hands and repeatedly clashing with the president — including attempts to force a resignation by cutting presidential staff and budget. Between 1994 and 1998, HZDS governed with a far-left party and the far-right Slovak National Party (SNS), a coalition that slowed Slovakia's EU accession relative to Poland, Czechia and Hungary.
SNS, not a direct successor of the wartime regime but with parts of the party repeatedly admiring Jozef Tiso's Slovak state, has persisted for decades under leaders like Ján Slota, who called Hungarians "a cancer in the body of the Slovak nation" and as mayor of Žilina saw the city council vote in 2000 to put up a plaque honouring Tiso, a plan later dropped after widespread criticism.
1999–2023 · Smer and Robert Fico's returns
Smer (Direction), founded in 1999 by Robert Fico, took over HZDS's space and won its first election in 2006, forming a government with HZDS and SNS that led to Smer's suspension from the European Socialist Party. Fico has since returned to power in 2012 and 2023. After 2023, Smer and Hlas were suspended from PES and their MEPs excluded from the S&D group. In office, Smer continues HZDS's authoritarian pattern: proposed public-broadcasting reforms that critics compared to communist-era censorship and the abolition in early 2024 of the Special Prosecutor's Office for major corruption cases. On taking office again in October 2023, Fico's government immediately suspended military aid to Ukraine.
Smer combines left-leaning economics, social conservatism, and nationalist rhetoric describing Slovakia as a nation for Slovaks rather than its minorities; it has grown increasingly eurosceptic, with Fico a close Brussels ally of Viktor Orbán.
Smaller radical parties
We Are Family (SR), right-wing populist and in government 2020–23, collapsed from eight percent to two. People's Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS), founded by Marián Kotleba as an explicit successor to the wartime fascist state, was one of Europe's most openly extremist parties before losing all its seats in 2023; a 2021 splinter, Republika, won 4.8% in 2023 and 12.5% in the 2024 European election.
2023-2026 · FICO’S ILLIBERAL TURN
Fico’s fourth government quickly weakened Slovakia’s checks: it abolished the Special Prosecutor’s Office in 2024, replaced RTVS with the government-influenced STVR, tightened NGO rules in 2025 and passed a constitutional amendment asserting sovereignty over EU law. Smer has shifted from left-populism to illiberal national conservatism. Fico ended military aid to Ukraine, met Putin repeatedly, and praised Trump’s MAGA movement. Mass protests followed, and a 2024 assassination attempt deepened polarisation.
2023-2026 · HLAS IN FICO’S SHADOW
Since entering government, Hlas has moved closer to Smer. It has backed most major reforms, including changes to criminal law, public broadcasting and the 2025 constitutional amendment, and under Šutaj Eštok has adopted a more combative style toward NGOs and the opposition. Differences remain: it is less confrontational towards the EU, more Western-anchored, and in 2026 helped block replacing the whistleblower-protection authority. By 2026 it is the moderate wing of one left-nationalist camp.
EP elections
Smer joined the Social Democratic group after winning three seats in Slovakia's first EP election in 2004; HZDS's sole remaining MEP joined ALDE by 2009. SNS entered in 2009 with the EFD group. People's Party Our Slovakia won two non-attached seats in 2019. In 2024 ĽSNS fell below 1%, while Republika took 12.5% and two seats, joining the Europe of Sovereign Nations group. Smer and Hlas MEPs were excluded from S&D after 2023.
SNS
Slovak National Party
- Economics Right
- Social issues Conservative
- EU Soft euroscepticism
- Authoritarianism High
SMER
Direction – Social Democracy
- Economics Left
- Social issues Conservative
- EU Soft euroscepticism
- Authoritarianism High
Hlas
Voice – Social Democracy
- Economics Left
- Social issues Conservative
- EU Soft euroscepticism
- Authoritarianism Medium
Republika
Republic
- Economics Right
- Social issues Conservative
- EU Hard euroscepticism
- Authoritarianism High