Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party

The Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party (Slovak: Slovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia – Demokratická strana, SDKÚ-DS) is a liberal-conservative,^[13] Christian-democratic^[6] political party in Slovakia. The SDKÚ-DS was a member of the Centrist Democrat International and was a member of the European People's Party until 2018, when it was expelled due to inactivity.^[14]

Slovak Democratic and Christian Union – Democratic Party Slovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia
Abbreviation	SDKÚ-DS
Leader	Branislav Rybárik
Founder	Mikuláš Dzurinda
Founded	18 February 2000
Preceded by	Slovak Democratic Coalition
Headquarters	Zámocká 4771/22, 811 08 Bratislava
Youth wing	New Generation
Membership (2021)	4 [1]
Ideology	Liberal conservatism[2][3][4][5] Christian democracy[6] Economic liberalism[7][8] Pro-Europeanism[9][10][11]
Political position	Centre-right[12]
European affiliation	European People's Party
European Parliament group	European People's Party
International affiliation	Centrist Democrat International
Colours	Blue
Slogan	Pre ľudí a o ľuďoch (For people and about people)
National Council	0 / 150
European Parliament	0 / 15
Website
www.sdkuds.sk
Politics of Slovakia Political parties Elections

For 10 years, SDKÚ was a major centre-right political force in Slovakia. During their rule, Slovakia became member of the European Union and NATO, as well as put through economic reforms leading to the 00's economic boom. The party lost its significance in the 2012 parliamentary election, when it received only 6% of votes. In the 2016 election, it lost rest of its MPs and received only 0.26% of votes.^[15] The party ran again in the 2023 election, receiving only 0,03% of votes.^[16]

History

Foundation

In 1998, SDK was created as coalition of five small centre-right and centre-left parties intending to contest the Slovak parliamentary elections that year. The initial agreement was to form a party with 150 members and dissolve it after elections in 1998. After successful 1998 elections, SDK formed government with KDH, SDĽ and SMK-MKP. This initial agreement was not successful, and Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda (KDH) announced formation of new party - Slovak Democratic and Christian Union (SDKÚ). Some SDK members joined the new party while others returned to their original parties. The new party was registered on 18 February 2000. On 18 November Constitution congress elected Mikuláš Dzurinda as chairman, vice chairmen being Edvard Kukan, Zuzana Martináková, Milan Kňažko and Ľubomír Harach. Gabriel Palacka became responsible for finances.

First time in government: 1998–2006

After its creation, a majority of ministers of Slovak government were members of SDKÚ. SDKÚ was considered to be most reform oriented party. Its coalition partners were Party of the Hungarian Coalition, Party of Civic Understanding and Party of the Democratic Left.

In the 2006 Slovak parliamentary election, the party won 18.4% of the popular vote and 31 out of 150 seats in the National Council. Despite losing a large number of votes, the party was still able to form coalition government with former partners such as the Christian Democratic Movement, Party of the Hungarian Coalition and new party Alliance of the New Citizen. However, the opposition centre-left populist Smer-SD could able to form coalition with Slovak National Party and

Second time in government: 2010–2012

For the 2010 parliamentary election, Dzurinda yielded the number-one slot on the party's list to Iveta Radičová, though he remained party chairman. In this election, the party won 15.42% of popular vote corresponding to 28 seats in the National Council.^[17][18] Iveta Radičová become the first female prime minister in history of Slovakia, by forming a new centre-right coalition government consisted of SDKÚ-DS, SaS, MOST-HÍD and KDH. By custom, president Ivan Gašparovič first gave charge to form a new government to winning party SMER-SD and its leader Robert Fico, who was unable to do so due to Smer-SD and SNS only having 71 seats.^[19] The centre-right coalition Government collapsed on 11 October 2011 after lost confidence in parliament. Radičová subsequently decided not take candidacy in next elections and served as prime minister until a social democratic government took office on 4 April 2012.

2012 election

Mikuláš Dzurinda led party to 2012 parliamentary election. The party was defeated badly, receiving just 6.09% of the votes and losing more than half of its seats. Dzurinda chose to resign from his position as the chairman of SDKÚ, and a party congress was held on 19 May 2012 so that a new leader could be chosen. Pavol Frešo, Lucia Žitňanská and Viliam Novotný were the candidates, Frešo finally won with 242 out of 404 votes. Lucia Žitňanská received 142 votes and announced she will not be a candidate for the position of vice-chairperson.

Candidate	first round	% in first round	second round	% in second round
Pavol Frešo	178	46.48%	242	63.02%
Lucia Žitňanská	146	38.12%	142	36.98%
Viliam Novotný	59	15.40%	-	-
Total	383	100%	384	100%

In the 2014 European elections, SDKÚ-DS came third place nationally, receiving 7.75% of the vote and electing 2 MEPs.^[20]

Out of 11 PMs elected in 2012 only 1 remained in the party as of 2015.^[21]

2016 election

The party was led by Pavol Frešo. However, during the previous term SDKÚ-DS practically fell apart from inside, when its own members of parliament chose to leave the party. As a result, Frešo has a tough position and even if his campaign was led along with Slovak right-wing consensus against the SMER-SD party, it failed. While gaining only 0,27% of votes and losing 95% of its previous voters in the election of 5.3.2016, the party has received its worst result in history. SDKÚ-DS has won only in one village, Pavlovce in Rimavská Sobota District.^[22] Frešo has commented that SDKÚ-DS as the only party has defended openly pro-European ideas, opposing the building of fences against the immigrants in European migrant crisis. The chairman said that the situation was a big challenge for the presidium.^[23]

Decline

A party congress was held on 2 July 2016. Pavol Frešo stepped down from leadership of the party. New Vice-Chairmans were elected. The leader was expected to be elected later in 2016.^[24] It was reported in April 2018 that party de facto ceased to exist as it lacks membership and structure. The party was expelled from European People's Party as a result.^[25] Igor Rattaj took over party's property and became owner of Party's trademark during September 2018. Rattaj stated that party is now only the Trademark and he will sell it if anyone expresses interest. Leader of the Party Milan Roman at the time ran for the position of Mayor in Skalice as an independent candidate.^[26]

2023 election

The party ran in the 2023 Slovak parliamentary election^[27] led by Branislav Rybárik.^[28] It received 771 votes (0,03%) and finished last.^[16] The party also ran in the 2024 European election, receiving 416 votes (0,03%) and again finishing last.^[29]

Ideology

SDKÚ-DS were a centre-right liberal conservative party, presenting itself as an alternative to the social-democratic and populist ideology of the Direction – Social Democracy (Smer-SD) party. After the general elections in 2010, SDKÚ-DS reached an agreement with other centre-right parties and formed the government of Slovakia. The party criticised the policies of Robert Fico's Smer-SD party, calling them irresponsible, unsustainable and populist. SDKÚ-DS was the fifth largest party in the National Council during years 2012–2016. Its policy included continuing in reforms that took place before 2006, including tax reform, welfare benefits cuts, pensions reform, healthcare reform etc. SDKÚ-DS was then organised into four sections:

• Team for recovery and modernisation, led by Ivan Mikloš,
• Team for a dignified life, led by Iveta Radičová,
• Anti-crisis team, led by newcomer Eugen Jurzyca,
• Team for law and justice, led by Lucia Žitňanská.

The main partners of SDKÚ-DS were politically similar parties: Christian Democratic Movement, Freedom and Solidarity, and Most-Híd. Until 2012, these parties were in a coalition government with SDKÚ-DS.

Election results

National Council

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Government
2002	Mikuláš Dzurinda	433,953	15.09 (#2)	28 / 150	16	Coalition
2006		422,851	18.35 (#2)	31 / 150	3	Opposition
2010	Iveta Radičová	390,042	15.42 (#2)	28 / 150	3	Coalition
2012	Mikuláš Dzurinda	155,744	6.09 (#5)	11 / 150	17	Opposition
2016	Pavol Frešo	6,938	0.27 (#15)	0 / 150	11	Extra-parliamentary
2020	Did not participate			0 / 150	0	Extra-parliamentary
2023	Branislav Rybárik	771	0.03 (#25)	0 / 150	0	Extra-parliamentary

Presidential

Election	Candidate	First round		Second round		Result
		Votes	%	Votes	%
1999	Rudolf Schuster[30]	1,396,950	47.37	1,727,481	57.18	Won
2004	Eduard Kukan	438,920	22.10			Lost
2009	Iveta Radičová	713,735	38.05	988,808	44.47	Lost
2014	Pavol Hrušovský	63,298	3.33			Lost

European Parliament

Election	List leader	Votes	%	Rank	Seats	+/–	EP Group
2004	Peter Šťastný	119,954	17.09%	1st	3 / 14	New	EPP-ED
2009	Eduard Kukan	140,426	16.98%	2nd	2 / 13	1	EPP
2014	Ivan Štefanec	43,467	7.75%	3rd	2 / 13	0
2019	Did not contest				0 / 14	2	–
2024	Branislav Rybárik	416	0.03%	23rd	0 / 15	0

References

1. "VS21_R_SDKU.pdf" (PDF). minv.sk (document) (in Slovak). 29 April 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
2. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2016). "Slovakia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 13 August 2019.
3. "Pred 20 rokmi vznikla SDKÚ, založil ju Dzurinda s niektorými ministrami svojej vlády". 18 February 2020.
4. "SDKÚ - DS - Slovenská demokratická a kresťanská únia - Demokratická strana - politická strana".
5. "Ako ďalej Dzurinda? V SDKÚ je napätie". 10 October 2007.
6. Vít Hloušek; Lubomír Kopeček (2010). Origin, Ideology and Transformation of Political Parties: East-Central and Western Europe Compared. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. pp. 125–. ISBN 978-0-7546-7840-3.
7. "Slowakische Parlamentswahlen: Fico – mit populären Forderungen zurück an die Macht". focus.de (in German). 30 August 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
8. Rogalska, Karin (12 March 2012). "Überfälliger Generationswechsel". wienerzeitung.at (in German). Retrieved 23 December 2022.
9. Okladal, Martin (8 March 2016). "R.I.P. SDKÚ-DS". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 26 January 2019.
10. "slovenske-politicke-strany-a-vstup-sr-do-europskej-unie-do-roku-2012.pdf" (PDF). akademickyrepozitar.sk (document) (in Slovak). 29 April 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
11. "VS21_R_ZZ.pdf" (PDF). iips.cz (document) (in Czech). 29 April 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
12. Haughton, Tim; Rybář, Marek (2006), "All Right Now? Explaining the Successes and Failures of the Slovak Centre-Right", Centre-Right Parties in Post-Communist East-Central Europe, Routledge, p. 115, ISBN 9780415347815
13. Elisabeth Bakke (2010). Central and East European party systems since 1989. Cambridge University Press. pp. 78, 80. ISBN 978-1-139-48750-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
14. "Európski ľudovci zo svojich radov vylúčili SDKÚ-DS, neplatila členské príspevky a prakticky neexistuje". Webnoviny.sk (in Slovak). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
15. "R.I.P. SDKÚ-DS". aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 7 March 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
16. "Výsledky parlamentných volieb 2023 (kompletné výsledky)". volby.sme.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
17. "Vo?by do N?rodnej rady Slovenskej republiky" (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
18. "Vo?by do N?rodnej rady Slovenskej republiky" (in Slovak). Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
19. http://www.sme.sk/c/5422317/prezident-dal-ficovi-desat-dni.html (in Slovak)
20. "Elections to the European Parliament 2014". Archived from the original on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
21. a. s, Petit Press (6 December 2015). "Frešo zostal sám. Kaník odišiel z SDKÚ a zakladá novú stranu" [Frešo left alone. Kaník has left SDKÚ and is founding a new party]. Domov.sme.sk (in Slovak). Sme. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
22. "Pozrite si, ako dopadli voľby vo vašej obci (Mapa)". 7 March 2016.
23. "Voľby na Slovensku".
24. "Strana SDKÚ-DS si zvolila nové vedenie: Frešo končí!". Cas.sk. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
25. "Európski ľudovci zo svojich radov vylúčili SDKÚ-DS, neplatila členské príspevky a prakticky neexistuje". Webnoviny.sk (in Slovak). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
26. "Majetok SDKÚ-DS dnes vlastní finančník Rattaj. Stranu chce predať". Glob.sk (in Slovak). 30 September 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
27. "Zoznam politických strán, politických hnutí a koalícií, ktoré podali kandidátnu listinu" (PDF). minv.sk. Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
28. Koválčik, Lukáš (20 July 2023). "Stránka SDKÚ-DS je totálny bizár: Modrý Avatar, memečká či motivačné citáty, líder strany je s ňou spokojný". Startitup.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 19 September 2023.
29. "Hlasy pre politické subjekty - Voľby do Európskeho parlamentu 2024". volbysr.sk. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
30. "Czech-Slovak Political Science Students' Union". cpssu.org. Retrieved 12 December 2016.

External links

• Official website