Hlas–SD states that it has a
pro-European outlook and promotes traditional
social-democratic goals within the
welfare state. Reflecting a more conservative stance, especially on social issues, the party refuses to promote liberalism on social issues, which it argues are not in demand. Party vice-chairman
Erik Tomáš was quoted as saying: "We have a conservative voter if we talk about polls, and I can assure everyone that we have our priorities, and they are not opening up some liberal issues." In July 2024, Erik Tomáš also said that the party will support intentions of Smer–SD to fight against
liberalism and progressive ideologies. In January 2025, party leader
Matúš Šutaj Eštok stated that "people around the world are realizing that the liberal and progressive ideologies of today's politicians do not truly represent freedom and progress but rather coercion and decline," citing examples such as
Donald Trump's reelection, the collapse of
Trudeau cabinet, the collapse of
Scholz cabinet, the
French political crisis, and the electoral victory of
Austria's
far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). While Hlas-SD aims to represent a more moderate Slovak social democracy than Smer, it "never embraced the environmentalist and socially progressive values characterising other rebranded social-democratic parties in Western and Eastern Europe" and instead "opted to differentiate itself from Smer-SD mainly by providing a more institutional and technocratic leadership style, in contrast to Fico’s increasingly populist and radical approach". It has a symbiotic relationship with Smer - while Smer's radicalization on sociocultural and foreign policy issues attract right-wing voters, Hlas appeals to moderate voters who are warded off by Smer's ideological shift. Nevertheless, the party has an ideological continuity with Smer. Smer and Hlas are considered to have "subtly different ideological programmes". Hlas puts emphasis on universal and European values, whereas Smer has a more national conservative approach, presenting itself as a specifically Slovak social democracy of a conservative and rustic character and with rejection of socially progressive values such as pro-LGBT and environmental agendas. Hlas pursues a more subtle approach, focusing on the concept of a 'strong state that helps the people'. It denounced liberalism from an economic perspective, criticizing
Freedom and Solidarity for wanting to limit the role of the state in society and rejecting the "13th month" pension payments. Hlas advocates generous social welfare, special programs for the poorest layers of Slovak society, and focusing on underdeveloped regions. After 2023, Hlas stated that it was abandoning its "middle position" between Smer and
Progressive Slovakia, instead opting to align with Smer as a "programmatically close party". The party aligned with Smer on issues such as Slovak withdrawal from NATO. Hlas has been described as moderate on socio-cultural issues, in contrast to the social conservatism of Smer. Hlas has avoided taking stances on issues such as vaccination, same-sex partnerships, or abortion, and instead focuses mainly on core social-democratic issues such as healthcare and the welfare state. The party also argues that "membership within the European Union and NATO is a guarantee of prosperity and safety". Overall, Hlas is considered "friendlier towards Euro-Atlantic institutions and less sympathetic towards Russia" than Smer. Hlas–SD has been described as a
catch-all party. ==Criminal charges and accusations==