Directorate-Social Democracy (Slovakia)

Directorate-Socialdemocracy, in Slovak Smer-Sociálna Demokracia (SMER-SD), and before January 1, 2005 known simply as "Address" (SMER), is a political party in Slovakia. Its president, Robert Fico, was prime minister between 2012 and 2018.

History

Originally known as Direction, the party emerged as a split from the Party of the Democratic Left (SDL'), on November 8, 1999. Under the leadership of Fico, at that time one of the most popular politicians in the country, he quickly overtook the SDL. In 2003 it changed its formal name to Direction (Third Way) (Slovak: Smer (Tretia basket)). In 2005, several centre-left parties (including the SDL, the Social Democratic Alternative and the Social Democratic Party of Slovakia) merged with SMER and adopted the party's current name. Following the party's victory in 2006, Smer-SD entered into a coalition with the nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS).

Due to the previous coalition, he was suspended as a member of the Party of European Socialists (PES). The then president of the PES, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, explained that 'The majority of our members stood solidly behind our values, according to which the formation of a coalition with the extreme right is unacceptable.' However, Smer-SD was readmitted to the PES in 2008 because Robert Fico and SNS leader Jan Slota committed in a letter to respect European values, human rights and all ethnic minorities.

Although the party obtained the majority of votes in the 2010 parliamentary elections, with a 20% lead over the second place SDKÚ, they were not able to form a government due to the losses suffered by their partners. of the coalition. With 34.8% of the vote, Smer-SD won 62 seats in the National Council, but the HZDS failed to cross the 5% threshold, losing all its seats, and the SNS was reduced to 9 seats. As a result, the four center-right opposition parties - SDKÚ, Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) and Most-Híd - were able to form a new government.

In the early elections of 2012 Smer-SD obtained its best electoral result, obtaining 44.4% of the votes and 83 of 150 seats in the National Council and becoming the first single-party government in Slovakia since 1993.

However, in the 2016 parliamentary elections it lost its absolute majority, obtaining 49 seats. He managed to form a government with a coalition with the SNS and other minority parties.

In the 2020 early elections Smer-SD lost its place as the largest party in the country after 14 years, reducing its representation to 38 seats.

Election results

Date	Votes	%	Deputies	+/-	Status
2002	387.100 (#3)	13,46	25/150	2	Opposition
2006	671.185 (#1)	29,14	50/150	25	Government
2010	880.111 (#1)	34,79	62/150	12	Opposition
2012	1.134.280 (#1)	44,41	83/150	21	Government
2016	734.481 (#1)	28,28	49/150	34	Government
2020	527.172 (#2)	18,29	38/150	11	Opposition