Direction – Social Democracy

Direction – Social Democracy

Direction – Social Democracy, often called Smer, is a political party in Slovakia. It was started in 1999 by Robert Fico, who is currently the prime minister. The party calls itself social-democratic. This means it mixes ideas about helping people with work and supporting local traditions.

Since 2006, Smer has been very important in Slovakia's government. It has led many governments and helped Slovakia join Europe more closely. During this time, the party changed some economic rules and added new help for people in need. However, there have also been many questions about honesty in the party.

After losing an election in 2020, Smer was not in charge for a while. But in 2023, Smer won again and Robert Fico became prime minister once more. Today, the party is known for strong opinions about Slovakia's place in Europe and its ties with other countries.

History

The party Direction (Slovak: Smer) was started on 8 November 1999 by Robert Fico. It began after splitting from the Party of the Democratic Left. Under Fico, it grew quickly in popularity. In the 2002 election, it became the third-largest party in the National Council of the Slovak Republic.

From 2006 to 2010, the party led the government with the Slovak National Party. Later, it was in opposition before leading the government again from 2012 to 2020. In 2023, the party won an election and formed a government with the Slovak National Party and Voice – Social Democracy.

In 2025, the party helped pass a change to the constitution. This change defines marriage as only between a man and a woman and adds protections for families and children. The party also changed laws about foreign aid, justice, and NGOs.

Ideology and policies

Direction – Social Democracy is a left-wing party in Slovakia. It was started by Robert Fico in 1999. The party supports left-wing economic policies, such as creating a strong welfare state and helping the poorest people.

The party believes the government should play a big role in the economy. It supports policies like higher taxes on the rich and protecting ordinary people from big businesses.

In foreign policy, the party has strong views against Western countries, especially the United States. It has shown support for Russia, but it still supports Slovakia’s membership in the European Union and NATO.

The party has also been known for its conservative social policies and for supporting traditional family values. It has faced criticism for its statements and actions.

Legal issues

After the 2020 parliamentary election, Slovak authorities looked into claims of dishonest behavior linked to the party Smer. By August 2023, some people connected to the party, including police officers, judges, and business people, were found guilty of these claims. The party denies all the charges and says it is being unfairly targeted.

In March 2023, Robert Kaliňák, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, and a businessman were accused of taking money secretly. These claims were later dropped by the Supreme Court because of mistakes in the legal process. In November 2020, Tibor Gašpar, a member of the National Council and former Police President, was accused of leading a group involved in illegal activities, but these charges were later canceled. In April 2022, Robert Fico, the party leader, and others were accused of misusing their positions, but these charges were canceled as well. In April 2023, Peter Kažimír, a former Minister of Finance, was found guilty of taking a secret payment and is appealing the decision.

Election results

National Council

European Parliament

President