Obyčajní ľudia a nezávislé osobnosti (OĽaNO – Ordinary People and Independent Personalities)

EU RANK: 139 (Tier 4: Low Performance)

OĽaNO is a populist, anti‑corruption movement with socially conservative currents and eclectic allies, led by former prime minister Igor Matovič. After winning the 2020 election and leading an unstable government, its influence declined and it now operates as an opposition bloc.​

Disinformation and alternative media

OĽaNO’s communication has relied heavily on social media, personalised online messaging and confrontational press conferences rather than on a stable network of conspiratorial portals. Some rhetoric from Matovič and allies has contributed to polarisation and occasional spreading of unverified or misleading claims, but systematic cooperation with hard pro‑Kremlin or extremist disinformation hubs is not documented at the same level as for the radical right. Disinformation and alternative‑media DMI risk is moderate (due to populist style and ad‑hoc amplification of dubious content, rather than a structured disinformation ecosystem).

Foreign influence and external alignments

OĽaNO is pro‑EU and pro‑NATO and governed on an explicitly pro‑Western, anti‑corruption platform, including support for Ukraine after 2022. Party‑funding analysis notes around €2 million in public subsidies after its 2023 result and criticises opacity in private‑donation transparency, but there is no evidence of direct hostile foreign‑state financing. Foreign‑influence DMI risk is low to moderate (coded low given its overall Western alignment despite funding‑transparency weaknesses).

Media capture, advertising and public service media

During its 2020–2021 spell in government, OĽaNO did not create a durable system of party‑centric media ownership or heavy state‑advertising capture comparable to SMER‑era patterns. Its current leverage over public‑service media and advertising flows is limited from opposition, and its imprint on long‑term ownership structures is modest, though its turbulent governing style contributed to instability in public communication and trust. Media‑capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is moderate.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

OĽaNO rose on an anti‑corruption platform and oversaw an initial wave of investigations into earlier grand‑corruption and state‑capture cases, but its own internal governance and financing practices have drawn watchdog criticism for opacity. Litigation mapping does not place OĽaNO leaders at the centre of the major oligarch and procurement cases of the past decade, yet allegations over subsidy use, chaotic management and politicisation of institutions have eroded its integrity profile. Corruption and institutional‑integrity DMI risk is moderate.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

OĽaNO governments did not construct a systematic apparatus for harassing or suing journalists, but Matovič’s confrontational style included frequent verbal attacks on critical outlets and reporters, contributing to a tense environment. The movement’s media strategy combines direct communication to supporters with contentious public clashes, without consistent patterns of SLAPPs or economic retaliation, yet with an inclination to delegitimise hostile coverage. Press‑freedom and harassment DMI risk is moderate.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Moderate	Heavy reliance on personalised social media and polarising rhetoric; occasional spread of unverified claims but no entrenched pro‑Kremlin portal network.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Pro‑EU/NATO and pro‑Ukraine; funding opaque at times but with no hostile‑state financing evidenced.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	Moderate	Limited structural capture; short‑lived governing influence and little lasting control over ownership or state advertising.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	Moderate	Anti‑corruption brand but criticised for opaque finances and chaotic, politicised governance of institutions.
Press freedom & harassment of media	Moderate	Confrontational style and delegitimisation of critical outlets without systematic SLAPP or economic‑pressure campaigns.