, Austrian
SPÖ, Bulgarian
BSP, Czech
ČSSD, Hungarian
MSZP, Polish
SLD/
NL, and Romanian
PSD on the TAN/GAL (sociocultural) and left-right (economic) dimensions. By 2025, SMER has become the second most socially conservative party, and the most economically left-wing one amongst the compared parties. and is considered a centre-left and a left-wing party. Additionally, it has also been variously described as
anti-establishment,
nationalist, left-authoritarian,
populist, social populist,
left-wing populist, and
national populist. The party has been recognised as diverging from the typical Western European social-democratic tradition due to its rejection of
postmaterial values. In their 2008 publication, Slovak political scientists
Grigorij Mesežnikov and
Oľga Gyárfášová argue that Smer is a social-democratic party (thus matching its self-identification), but one with very strong nationalist and populist elements that also include aspects of social conservatism. While scholars avoid labeling it as a far-right party, they have described it as incorporating far-right themes, expressing views that resonate with far-right voters, or advancing an electoral program aligned with far-right agendas. Natalia Hatarova described the party's ideological drift: Hatarova also argues that Smer has become increasingly friendly towards some European far-right parties and figures, such as
Viktor Orbán of the Hungarian
Fidesz party. However, she concludes that Smer's shift "appears to be caused by pure opportunism rather than continuous influence by Orbán [or other far-right figures]". The main economic proposals of the party focus on the establishment of a welfare state and supporting the poorest groups of Slovakia. Many of the party's socioeconomic policies, such as free travel for pensioners and pension increases are considered typically left-wing populist. Smer also adheres to
economic nationalism;
Grigorij Mesežnikov noted that "Smer openly subscribes to etatism as the foundation of its political profile and advocates government's strong role in a number of areas" and called its economic policy "etatist paternalism", while also arguing that the party also represents "socio-economic policies based on social-democratic values". Robert Fico, the leader of the party, argued that the government should be "the father of all citizens" and stated that a strong state is necessary to improve the socioeconomic conditions of Slovak citizens. The party presents its economic policies as being "social" and "pro-ordinary people", and its proposals also included the introduction of differential VAT rates, replacement of flat income tax rate with a progressive one that would tax the lower-income groups much less and reduction of excise duty on fuel oils. In regards to the Slovak healthcare system, the party advocated a ban on processing fees as well as a halt to the privatization of public health system. Smer also made pledges to cancel payment of tuition fees for regular university sutudents and establishing a dynamic minimum wage that would be fixed to the 60% of average salary. The party is highly critical of other Slovak parties, accusing them of implementing "anti-social" policies that neglect the poor while benefitting the rich. Robert Fico argued that the neoliberal economic policy of the
Mikuláš Dzurinda threw Slovakia "back to the 1930s". In its economic rhetoric, Smer also frequently attacks monopolies, arguing that the increase in gas prices is caused by the "ruthless pricing policy of monopolies" that are "raking in exorbitant profits". The party is also critical of the banking industry, stating that Slovak banks tend to collect unfairly high service fees from their client; the party promoted itself as one willing to ban or limit the service fees of Slovak banks. In regards to Slovak banks, Robert Fico said: "The banks operating in Slovakia must realize that they operate on the territory of a sovereign state, which must use all available means to bring a pressure to bear on the banking sector." In response to criticism of his remarks, Fico also argued that the political opponents of Smer are "conveying the fears of international corporations and financial groups that literally govern this country and now they have understood that once our program is implemented, the gold rush in Slovakia will be over." This reveals a highly nationalist orientation of the party. International institutions, notably the IMF, acknowledge these steps but consider them insufficient to fully address the structural deficit, estimating that fiscal adjustments of about 3.7% of GDP over 2024–28 are necessary. The IMF and Slovakia's Council for Budget Responsibility highlight an overreliance on revenue measures and call for deeper expenditure reforms. The Supreme Audit Office warns that growing pension obligations pose long-term fiscal risks. The National Bank of Slovakia projects that the consolidation will slow short-term economic growth by around 0.6 percentage points,
Foreign policy Smer holds
Russophilic and
Eurosceptic stances on foreign policy; however, it claims to support Slovakia's membership in the
European Union and
NATO. The party expresses strong
anti-Western, especially
anti-American sentiment, often spreading
Russian propaganda narratives. Regarding the
Russo-Ukrainian War, Smer advocates for ending military aid to
Ukraine and lifting sanctions against
Russia. The party has described the conflict as a proxy war between the
United States and Russia, characterizing Russia's actions as a response to perceived threats to its national interests. In its statements, Smer has claimed that the war was provoked in 2014 by what it describes as the "extermination of citizens of Russian nationality by Ukrainian fascists." However, since his return to power, Fico has taken a somewhat different line on Ukraine than during his election campaign. During a meeting with Ukrainian
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in January 2024, Fico promised not to block private Slovak arms companies from selling to Ukraine, not to block EU financial support for Ukraine, and to support the
accession of Ukraine to the European Union. He described Slovakia's political differences with Ukraine as "minor" and claimed to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. In its foreign policy manifesto, Smer calls for understanding with countries that have forms of government different from
parliamentary democracy, specifically mentioning
China and
Vietnam. During his premiership, party leader Robert Fico repeatedly praised the political systems of both countries, describing Slovakia's system as clumsy and uncompetitive by comparison. He has called for aspects of these systems to be adopted in Slovakia. In the 2000s, the party opposed the
Iraq War and the
War in Afghanistan, and organized the withdrawal of 110 Slovak soldiers that were deployed in Iraq. In 2007, Fico made an official state visit to
Libya, where he met with then-leader
Muammar Gaddafi. During the visit, Fico spoke of "the fight against world imperialism" as a topic of mutual interest.
European affiliation Smer joined the
Party of European Socialists (PES) in 2009. It remained a member in good standing for 14 years. However, in October 2023, Smer was suspended from PES and the affiliated
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
European Parliament group after it entered into coalition with the
Slovak National Party, an
ultranationalist party, in the Slovak National Council. After the
2024 European Parliament election, Smer unsuccessfully sought to rejoin the S&D group. Smer subsequently declined to join the newly-formed
Patriots for Europe group, led by the Hungarian national-conservative
Fidesz party, stating that it would not join a non-leftist group. Nevertheless, Smer maintains close ties with Fidesz;
Viktor Orbán, Fidesz's longtime leader and
prime minister of Hungary, delivered a video address to the Smer party conference in November 2024. In September 2024, Smer began negotiations with two other parties in the
Non-Inscrits, the German
Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht and the Czech
Stačilo!, on establishing cooperation between left-wing conservative parties. One year later, in September 2025, it was reported that PES had voted to expel Smer from the party. The decision was ratified at a PES party conference held in mid-October 2025. After the formal expulsion of Smer from the PES, Fico instructed Smer MEPs to seek a new European Parliament group, with
Monika Beňová expressing preference for accepting an offer from the
Patriots for Europe, though Beňová noted that her colleagues were still negotiating the formation of an entirely new political group. Smer MEPs
Katarína Roth Neveďalová and
Ľuboš Blaha subsequently expressed opposition to joining Patriots for Europe. Smer leader
Robert Fico was reportedly in "ongoing consultations" with Fidesz leader
Viktor Orbán about joining the group, though Fico remained undecided. According to Beňová, the party ultimately decided to postpone its decision until September 2026.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel changes During the tenure of
Juraj Blanár, the vice-chairman of Smer, as
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, the ministry saw significant personnel changes that sparked controversy. Several diplomats perceived as pro-Western, including openly gay employees and those with disabilities, were dismissed amid allegations of discrimination related to sexual orientation, age, and political views. Nine former diplomats filed a lawsuit claiming unjust dismissals. Concurrently, the ministry recruited around 146 new staff members, many of whom graduated from Russian institutions such as
MGIMO and
St. Petersburg University, reflecting a shift towards closer ties with Russia.
Appearances in Russian-aligned media Leading figures of the Smer party, including the
PM and party's leader
Robert Fico and the deputy leader and
MEP Ľuboš Blaha, have maintained a presence on media platforms in Slovakia known for promoting Russian-aligned narratives. Among these outlets are
Hlavné Správy (Main News) and
Infovojna (Infowar), both widely recognized as prominent sources of disinformation and Russian propaganda in Slovakia. Despite Hlavné Správy and Infovojna having been temporarily suspended by the
National Security Authority in accordance with the Cyber Security Act following the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 due to identified harmful activity, the leaders continue to utilize these platforms for communication after the suspension was lifted. In December 2023, Robert Fico appeared on Infovojna, where he expressed appreciation towards "alternative media" for "correcting the distortions we have in the media market." Additionally, in October 2024, Fico appeared on Russia's state-owned television network,
Rossiya 1, during the program 60 Minutes, hosted by
Olga Skabeyeva. Fico criticized Western support for Ukraine, questioned the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia, and accused the West of "prolonging the war" in Ukraine. His appearance marked the first by a political leader from an
EU and
NATO country on Russian television since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, drawing significant criticism both domestically and internationally. In October 2025,
Richard Glück, Smer MP and chair of the parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security, attended a gala in Moscow celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Russian state television network
RT, where
President Vladimir Putin also spoke. During an interview with RT, Glück criticized Slovak and Western media for alleged bias over the
war in Ukraine and praised pro-Russian “alternative media.” He said he travelled privately, and the visit was not an official parliamentary trip.
Social policy Smer is considered a
left-conservative party with a record of
anti-LGBT,
Islamophobic,
anti-immigration and
anti-Romani statements and policies. It proclaims its
opposition to liberalism and
progressivism, frequently targeting media and NGOs that it associates with these positions. Party's leading politicians spread
disinformation and
conspiracy theories, including
antisemitic George Soros conspiracy theories. It draws on Slovak folk traditions, idealizes the nation's history and openly supports the Catholic bishops. During its time in power, the party, in cooperation with the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH), passed constitutional amendments defining marriage exclusively as a union between a man and a woman, legally recognizing only two biological sexes, banning surrogacy, restricting adoption to married heterosexual couples, strengthening parental control over education, and asserting Slovak sovereignty over EU law in cultural and ethical matters. It also introduced a law requiring NGOs to submit annual transparency reports disclosing donors contributing over €5,000, as well as information about their leadership and funding sources; the Public Defender of Rights challenged the measure at the Constitutional Court, arguing it violated constitutional and human rights by threatening donor privacy and disproportionately burdening smaller organizations. During the
2015 European migrant crisis, party's leader
Robert Fico stated that the government monitors every single
Muslim who is on the territory of the Slovak Republic. In 2016, Fico declared that
Islam has no place in Slovakia, challenged
multiculturalism and called for the preservation of the country's traditions and identity. In 2016, the party's government passed a law amendment raising the minimum membership requirement for churches and religious organizations seeking registration in Slovakia from 20,000 to 50,000 adult members with permanent residence. In 2016, Fico described Romani people as "welfare abusers" and supported increased police interventions in Romani settlements, calling for a tougher approach and rejecting political correctness. In 2019, Fico also endorsed anti-Romani remarks made by former far-right MP
Milan Mazurek, who was convicted for disparaging comments targeting the community; this endorsement led to criminal charges against Fico for defamation and incitement to racial hatred, which were eventually dismissed. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the party
opposed vaccinations and restrictive measures. It opposed the ratification of the
Istanbul Convention in Slovakia.
Links to Daniel Bombic Several prominent figures from Smer have appeared in interviews, livestreams, or videos hosted by Daniel Bombic — also known as Danny Kollár — a Slovak far-right commentator based in London who is the subject of three international arrest warrants for alleged offences related to
extremism,
cyberbullying, and
doxing. Bombic has been reported to promote conspiracy theories including those involving
COVID-19 misinformation, the
Great Replacement, the
New World Order, and an alleged international Jewish conspiracy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was accused of inciting attacks and spreading hate speech against doctors, public health officials, and other public figures. Laššáková has maintained a long-term collaboration with Bombic, co-hosting interviews with conspiracy theorists and political figures, and stated that she would not rule out appointing him as an assistant in the European Parliament. Bombic's return to Slovakia in early 2025 was reported to have been facilitated using a government aircraft, and he received legal and housing assistance from a law firm co-owned by Robert Kaliňák.
Meeting with Andrew Tate In August 2025, the party's deputy leader, MEP, and Chairman of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council,
Erik Kaliňák, along with MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee,
Richard Glück, met with American manosphere media personality
Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate. After publishing a photograph from the meeting on Facebook, Glück commented: “I respect everyone; people can think whatever they want. I agree with many things Andrew Tate and his brother say, but of course, I do not agree with the exaggerated misogyny.” Kaliňák described the discussions as “well-founded,” covering not only Slovak and Romanian politics but also the future of Europe in the context of current European leadership. He added that the conversation also touched on the United States, where “these personalities are relatively highly regarded.”
Communist nostalgia Following a major internal split that resulted in the founding of a new party named
Voice – Social Democracy (Hlas), the party began to radicalize its rhetoric, including expressing
nostalgia for the prior communist state. The party politicians utilize slogans reminiscent of the communist era, such as "Loiterers from cafes, to fields and factories" and the greeting "Greetings, comrades! Honor work!" In January 2024,
Prime Minister and party chairman
Robert Fico and Deputy Speaker of the
National Council and party vice-chairman
Ľuboš Blaha visited the grave of
Gustav Husák, the last communist
president of the Czechoslovakia, to pay their respects. Husák was a key figure in the
normalization process in Czechoslovakia – a return to strict
Communist Party control and the suppression of
political liberalization following the
Warsaw Pact invasion in 1968. In November 2023, Blaha replaced a portrait of
President Zuzana Čaputová in his parliamentary office with a portrait of Argentine Marxist revolutionary
Che Guevara. In his speech at the Smer-organized commemoration of the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising in August 2023, Blaha addressed the crowd as "
comrades" and stated, "The basic historical truth is that war and
fascism have always come from the West and freedom and peace from the East." In December 2019, Blaha shared a photograph on Facebook depicting himself alongside Fico, with the former holding a
red star bearing a
hammer and sickle motif. The star was a birthday gift presented to Blaha by Fico. == Legal issues ==