Slovak Opposition Party SaS Rejects Founder Sulík from Candidate List at Congress

Slovakia's opposition party Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) delivered a major blow to its founder and former chairman Richard Sulík at its 22nd congress on Saturday, with delegates voting to exclude him from the party's candidate list for upcoming parliamentary elections. The congress also saw Jana Bittó Cigániková removed from the party's leadership board, marking significant personnel upheaval within the liberal party. SaS, a pro-business liberal party that has been part of Slovakia's opposition since losing power in 2020, appears to be undergoing a substantial internal restructuring as it prepares for future elections. The rejection of Sulík, who founded the party in 2009 and led it through several electoral cycles, represents a dramatic shift in the party's direction and leadership structure.