Any italians,swiss, or german folks out there? (1 Viewer)

[Red_Dave]

After many a debate about whether Proportional representation would be an improvement on First past the post voteing systems i would be intrested to hear how proportional representation actually works in countrys where it has been implemented. So if anyones in one of those countrys or any other country where P.R has been implemented ild be intrested to hear how effectivley you think it works?

 

[Volker]

Yes, a German is here
We have two voices for every election, the first one is a person, the second one is a list (usually a party). This is somehow a mix between proportional and majoritarian system. The good thing is, you get what you voted.
Parties tend to place first voice candidates, where they help them most. Sometimes well-known candidates don't run in their counties, but in counties, where the rivals have strong candidates.
Second voice candidates are on a list, the more voices the party gets, the more candidates go to parliament. Politicians of bigger parties can have something like a safe position this way.
This system works, I think.

 

[Red_Dave]

Yes, a German is here
We have two voices for every election, the first one is a person, the second one is a list (usually a party). This is somehow a mix between proportional and majoritarian system. The good thing is, you get what you voted.
Parties tend to place first voice candidates, where they help them most. Sometimes well-known candidates don't run in their counties, but in counties, where the rivals have strong candidates.
Second voice candidates are on a list, the more voices the party gets, the more candidates go to parliament. Politicians of bigger parties can have something like a safe position this way.
This system works, I think.

Thats intresting as the german system gets alot of criticism over here for giveing small parties like the greens to much power due to the need to form coalitions. I.E large partys like the S.T.P tend to end up dependant on small parties like the greens to form coaltions. This gives smaller parties just as much power as big parties despite there lack of electoral suporrt.

 

[Volker]

This criticism is justifiable by all means, this is a drawback. While parliament seats often correspond with the will of the voters, positions in the government usually do not. Governments are often build by a big party and a small party. It's not always clear, which parties build the coalition. For instance, the coalition we have now, the current chancellor said a again and again during campaign, they will not build a coalition with SPD. She changed her mind like 5 minutes after votes were count.
However, the real power of the junior partner is often very limited, especially the German Green party was in danger to loose their identity, because Social Democrats decided and Greens were expected to nod.

I think, the Palestinians have almost the same electoral systems like we have.

PS: Happy belated birthday :smile: