Hlas Party Official Says Coalition Must Differentiate From Smer Amid Declining Poll Numbers

Michal Kaliňák, a senior official with the ruling Hlas party, said the coalition must distinguish itself from its partner Smer-SD as the party faces declining support in opinion polls. Kaliňák, who serves as state secretary at the Interior Ministry and sits on Hlas's leadership board, argued that the party's falling preferences cannot be blamed solely on party leadership. The 46-year-old official, who oversees electoral legislation and previously led the Association of Slovak Towns and Villages, addressed questions about potential changes to election laws and his decision not to run again for the Prešov regional governor position. Hlas, a center-left party that split from Smer-SD in 2020, has been part of Slovakia's ruling coalition since forming the government with Smer-SD and the Slovak National Party following elections in 2023.