The party dissolved on the 1 March 2003 and recommended its members join Direction – Social Democracy (SMER).

[3] Members of the new party included the former Foreign Minister Pavol Hamžík,[3] among other prominent Slovak figures.

[6] The party's aim initially was to reduce the polarisation of Slovak politics,[9] by promoting reconciliation between the government of Vladimír Mečiar and the opposition.

[14] The party got 2 ministerial posts in the new government,[15] European Integration and Privatisation[8] and a deputy prime minister.

In return for not taking a third ministry, they got agreement that all the government parties would support Rudolf Schuster to become the next president.

[3] Schuster led the first round with 47.4% of the vote and was elected president at the run-off, defeating the former Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar by 57.2% to 42.8%.