Coalition government

A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. The usual reason for this arrangement is that no party on its own has a majority in the parliament. In times of crisis such as a war or a major economic or political crisis parties may form an all-party National Unity Government or Grand Coalition.

Arguments for and against coalition government

Coalition governments often occur in countries that possess an electoral system based upon proportional representation. Advocates of PR suggest that a coalition government leads to more consensual politics, in that a government comprised of differing parties (often based on different ideologies) would have to concur in regards to governmental policy. Another advantage is that a coalition government better reflects the popular opinion of the electorate within a country.

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People who disapprove of coalition governments believe that such governments have a tendency to be fractous and prone to disharmony. This is because coalitions would be comprised of different parties with differing beliefs, who may not always agree on the correct path for governmental policy. Sometimes the results of an election are of such nature that the coalitions that are mathematically most probable are ideologically unfeasible, such as in Flanders or Northern Ireland.

Related Topics:
Flanders - Northern Ireland

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