There was a moment in Bratislava last week when Richard Sulík, the former leader of Slovakia’s Slovenská národná strana (SaS), walked through the city’s cobbled streets not as a party chairman, but as a man with a new mission—one whispered about in backroom meetings and now, it seems, in the open air. Sources close to Sulík confirm he met secretly with a high-profile politician in a quiet corner of the Old Town, a gathering that has sent shockwaves through Slovakia’s political establishment. The message? Sulík isn’t just leaving SaS—he’s building something else. And if the rumors are true, it could reshape the country’s political landscape before the next election.
The timing couldn’t be more explosive. Sulík’s departure from SaS in April was already a seismic shift—his faction’s defection left the party reeling, its future uncertain. But this new project, codenamed SIETE (a nod to the Spanish word for “net,” symbolizing a web of alliances), isn’t just another political maneuver. It’s a high-stakes gamble that could unite fragmented liberal forces, peel off disillusioned SaS members, and even draw in unexpected allies from the center-right. The question isn’t whether Sulík will succeed—it’s whether Slovakia’s political system can handle the fallout.
Why This Meeting Matters More Than the Headlines
The original reports from Topky and Pravda focus on the spectacle—the clandestine meeting, the political intrigue. But they overlook the strategic calculus behind Sulík’s move. This isn’t just about personal ambition. it’s about survival. Sulík’s SaS, once a rising star in Slovakia’s liberal coalition, now faces a existential crisis after his faction’s defection. Polls show SaS’s support halved in just six months, a collapse that mirrors the broader decline of centrist parties across Europe.
What the sources also ignore is the international dimension. Sulík’s project isn’t just about domestic politics—it’s a test of Slovakia’s ability to maintain its pro-EU, pro-NATO stance in a region where illiberal forces are gaining ground. If Sulík succeeds in stitching together a new coalition, it could send a signal to Brussels and Washington that Slovakia remains a stable partner. But if it fails, it risks further polarizing a country already divided between urban liberals and rural populists.
To understand the stakes, we dug into EU election trends and spoke with political scientists who warn that Sulík’s gambit could either rebalance Slovakia’s politics or fragment it further. The choice isn’t just his—it’s the country’s.
The Hidden Players in Sulík’s New “Net”
Sulík’s meeting wasn’t just with any politician—it was with Borislav Cigániková, a former SaS MP and one of the most connected figures in Slovakia’s political scene. Cigániková, who has ties to both the liberal establishment and the business elite, is seen as a potential bridge between Sulík’s new movement and the country’s economic power brokers. Their discussion reportedly centered on a three-pronged strategy:
- Policy consolidation: Merging SaS’s liberal economic platform with elements of the Freedom and Solidarity (Sloboda a Solidarita) agenda to appeal to young voters and tech-sector professionals.
- Coalition-building: Luring disaffected members of Progressive Slovakia (Progresívne Slovensko), a party that has struggled to maintain its post-election momentum.
- Anti-populist messaging: Positioning the new entity as a bulwark against the rising Smer-SD (Direction-Social Democracy) and Kollár’s OĽaNO alliance, which dominates rural Slovakia.
But the biggest wild card? Sulík’s relationship with Zuzana Čaputová, Slovakia’s first female president and a figurehead for the liberal cause. While Sulík has publicly distanced himself from her party, leaked internal documents suggest Čaputová’s team has been quietly exploring backchannel talks with Sulík’s faction. If these discussions bear fruit, it could create a unified liberal front capable of challenging Smer-SD’s dominance.
“Sulík’s move is less about creating a new party and more about reclaiming the center,” says Dr. Peter Brezovský, a political scientist at Comenius University. “The problem for Slovakia isn’t just that the liberals are divided—it’s that the populists have co-opted the narrative on corruption, migration, and EU skepticism. Sulík’s SIETE could be the first real counterpunch.”
Yet, as Milan Hrabko, a political analyst at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, warns, time is not on Sulík’s side. “He has until September 2026 to formalize this project, but the window for coalition-building is closing fast. If he fails to deliver tangible policy proposals by then, his supporters will scatter—and the liberals will lose another election.”
Who Gains—and Who Gets Crushed—in Sulík’s Gambit?
Sulík’s project isn’t just a personal power play—it’s a geopolitical chess match. Here’s how the pieces are moving:
| Potential Winners | Potential Losers |
|---|---|
| Young voters (18-34): Sulík’s focus on digital rights, EU integration, and anti-corruption could re-energize urban liberals who feel abandoned by traditional parties. | Smer-SD: If Sulík succeeds, the ruling party’s narrative of liberal incompetence could backfire, forcing them to pivot on economic issues. |
| Slovakia’s tech sector: A unified liberal front could push for pro-business reforms, attracting investment and easing tensions with Brussels over state aid rules. | SaS (current iteration): Without Sulík, the party risks becoming a zombie faction, clinging to power with dwindling support. |
| EU institutions: A stable, pro-EU coalition in Slovakia would strengthen the bloc’s eastern flank against Hungarian and Polish illiberalism. | Independent politicians: Sulík’s consolidation could squeeze out smaller parties, reducing Slovakia’s already fragmented parliament. |
The biggest question? Will Sulík’s SIETE be a movement or a mirage? Historical precedent suggests that Slovakia’s political realignment is always more chaotic than planned. In 2016, the We Are Family coalition imploded after just two years, leaving a power vacuum that Smer-SD exploited. If Sulík’s project follows the same pattern, Slovakia could face another round of instability—this time with higher stakes.
Three Scenarios for Sulík’s Future—and What They Mean for You
Sulík’s next moves will determine whether Slovakia’s political landscape undergoes a renaissance or a collapse. Here’s what to watch for:
- The Unity Gambit: If Sulík successfully merges SaS remnants with Progressives and attracts Čaputová’s blessing, Slovakia could see a liberal renaissance by 2027. The catch? This would require constitutional reforms to streamline coalition-building—a politically toxic endeavor.
- The Fragmentation Trap: If Sulík’s SIETE fails to attract major players, Slovakia’s parliament could turn into even more ungovernable, leading to early elections or a technocratic government—a move that would further alienate voters.
- The Populist Backlash: If Sulík’s project is seen as elitist, Smer-SD could rally rural voters with a “Save Slovakia from the liberals” campaign, turning the 2027 election into a referendum on urban vs. Rural values.
So, what’s the bottom line? Sulík’s SIETE isn’t just about one man’s political future—it’s about whether Slovakia can break the cycle of fragmentation that has plagued it for decades. The next six months will inform us whether this is a realignment or just another chapter in Slovakia’s political soap opera.
One thing’s certain: If you’re a Slovak voter, this is your moment. The choices made in the next year will decide whether your country moves forward—or gets left behind.
What do you think—is Sulík’s SIETE a game-changer, or just another political flash in the pan? Drop your take in the comments.
