Common sense, self-confidence, equal opportunities, and a balanced approach to green policies – these are the values championed by Monika Ivanusyková through her political initiative Mladý HLAS. Based in Bratislava, she does not live in a metropolitan bubble. She is aware of the differences between large cities and the regions and supports young people who want to start businesses outside the major urban centres. And what bothers her? “People who constantly complain about how terrible everything is in Slovakia. Czechia and Slovakia are still among the safest countries in the world,” she says.
What have you managed to accomplish so far through the Mladý HLAS initiative?
Mladý HLAS is still a relatively new initiative, so I do not want to make sweeping statements. What I consider important is that we have created a space where young people are not merely passive observers of politics but can become active participants. We have begun building a community of young people across the regions, organizing discussions, meeting with young people, and opening up issues that directly affect us – affordable housing, first jobs, support for start-ups, young entrepreneurs security, and quality of life in Slovakia. Our ambition is not simply to create one platform in Bratislava but to build an organization that is active throughout the regions. It is often there that young people feel most strongly that opportunities are not equally available to everyone.
One of the priorities you announced is affordable housing for young families. Where do you see the biggest problem in the current system?
In my opinion, the biggest problem is that the reality facing young people has changed dramatically in recent years. Housing prices have risen much faster than incomes, and this is not only a Slovak issue – young people across many European countries face the same challenge. A young graduate often does not yet earn enough to qualify for a mortgage and has not had time to save for the required down payment. That is why we also need to discuss more affordable rental housing, faster construction, and better cooperation between the state, municipalities, and the private sector. If we want young people to remain in Slovakia, start families, and feel secure about their future, housing cannot be an issue only for those who already have strong financial backing. It should be one of the state’s priorities.
How do you turn your ideas into reality? What tools do you use?
At Mladý HLAS, we try to work primarily through concrete proposals. We first discuss issues within working groups focused on areas such as public finance, entrepreneurship, education, and healthcare. Once we have developed a proposal that is both realistic and practical, we consult it with members of parliament responsible for that area and then seek to present it to the relevant ministry. I have to say that the HLAS party maintains an open dialogue with us, and I feel it sees us as a genuine partner. Even if not everything works out the first time, we receive feedback that helps us refine our proposals so they can be implemented in practice. I do not want to set young people against older generations. Experienced politicians bring practical knowledge, while we contribute the perspective of the generation that will bear responsibility for the country in ten or twenty years. I believe combining these two perspectives is the best way forward.
With Minister of the Interior Matúš Šutaj Eštok and parliamentary assistant Samuel Maťaš
If you had to describe what bothers you most about today’s political scene, dominated by middle-aged and older generations, what would it be?
What bothers me most is that politics often revolves around proxy issues, pointless ideological disputes, or comments made during the latest political debate. Social media only amplifies this. But a viral reel does not solve a young person’s rent, help them find their first job, or answer the question of whether they will one day be able to start a family here. I certainly do not belong to those who want to pack their bags and leave before every election. That is precisely why I care about ensuring that young people with centrist and social democratic views also have a space in which they can engage and make themselves heard.
How do young people respond to your activities?
The reactions are mixed. You can never please everyone. Overall, however, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, especially from young people who want to get involved instead of merely commenting on politics from a distance. Since Mladý HLAS was founded only recently, many of our own initiatives are still in the preparation or implementation phase, so young people are hearing about them before they can fully benefit from them in practice. At the same time, I believe HLAS has already succeeded in introducing several measures that genuinely help young people and families. One example is the Right to a First Job initiative, which gives people under the age of twenty-nine a better chance of gaining their first work experience. Equally important is support for single parents, who often face extremely difficult life situations. This is exactly what social policy should be – practical assistance where people genuinely need it.
You graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. In what way has that background been most useful in your current work? And do you ever miss working with numbers?
Mathematics taught me to think systematically. When solving a problem, you cannot rely solely on impressions or emotions. You have to analyse it, understand the connections, and look for a solution that makes sense not only intuitively but also rationally. I believe that is extremely useful in politics, especially when dealing with public finances, housing, budgets, or social policy. In these areas, numbers are the foundation of sound decision-making. I do sometimes miss working with numbers and analytical tasks as such, but at the moment I cannot imagine investing my time and energy in anything else. Perhaps I have simply moved from equations on paper to equations within society.
The author is a staff writer for Deník
CV BOX
Monika Ivanusyková is the co-founder and Chair of the Mladý HLAS–SD initiative.
She graduated in Managerial Mathematics from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava.
She currently works in the Office of the National Council of the Slovak Republic as a parliamentary assistant. Last year, together with fellow members of her party, she founded Mladý HLAS, an initiative that seeks to connect young people and promote better conditions for both their professional and personal lives.
She was a competitive swimmer with the Orca Bratislava swimming club.
She lives in Bratislava and is single.
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